Farmer's Deli is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.

The Farmer’s Deli food truck, tucked in Bend’s Brooks Alley, is aptly named.

Shelves on the side of the deli-on-wheels are stocked with chips, Sparrow Bakery cookies and packaged dried fruit, meant to be enjoyed alongside the food truck’s freshly made sandwiches.

Justin Halvorsen, former executive chef of The Victorian Cafe, said he launched the concept on June 1. A Vermont native, he modeled his business after the delis on the East Coast.

“Every town has a little deli — like the general store, the country store — there’s always a place to grab a sandwich,” he said about his former home.

The shelves are also dotted with compassionate messages.

“Today’s special is you” reads a board next to a multicolored rock painted with the words, “Be kind” and a bowl of free milk bones for dogs.

The star of the menu are the sandwiches, but there are also healthy bowls with grilled organic chicken and breakfast burritos.

Keeping it simple

Biting into the Mt. Washington grilled cheese ($14) offered the satisfying crunch every grilled cheese should have, followed by its gooey and stringy interior. Cooked — not crispy — apples from Washington were intermixed with oodles of caramelized onions and a few chunky slices of smoked bacon.

Simple, high-quality and local ingredients make something as basic as a grilled cheese a phenomenal experience at Farmer’s Deli. Halvorsen sources bread from Sparrow Bakery and Mill Fire Baking, sausage from Tumalo and cheese from Tillamook Creamery.

He brings a taste of Vermont to Bend with his own take on the “Vermonster” sandwich, listed on the menu as the “A.S.M.R. VT-STER.” His version contains roasted turkey, arugula, Tillamook white cheddar, cranberry compote, apple and maple aioli on sourdough bread.

Building community and giving back

Halvorsen sits on the board of the Bend Farmer’s Market and has a background in the nonprofit field, he said. In his limited spare time, he’s always searching for a way to give back to the community.

“I’ve been cooking for 24 years as a chef, but my heart really lies with building community and helping the community through food,” Halvorsen said.

He is currently running a “tip a meal,” encouraging customers to give a small donation to Bend’s Family Kitchen instead of leaving a tip. According to the promotional flyer on the truck, $20 provides five nutritious meals to anyone in need.

“Feeding people and cooking food for people fills my soul, fills my cup. But then I get this whole different level where I can also give back to the community and offer a fundraiser for Bend Family Kitchen,” he said.

More Coverage

Bend’s Hawaiian food cart, Aina Kauai Style Grill, reopens with a new vision

Sensitive about food sensitivities

Halvorsen also gives back to the community by offering a substantial number of gluten-free items on his menu, as he believes everyone in Bend should have access to a decent lunch. All soups and salad dressings are gluten-free, and any sandwich may be prepared on gluten-free bread.

He aims to make his truck as safe as possible for all common allergens, such as eggs, dairy, nuts, fish, sesame or soy and urges his customers to let them know of any sensitivities, so he can make their experience as worry-free as possible.

With its stand-out sandwiches, made with love and local ingredients, Farmer’s Deli is poised to become a destination for a quick and healthy lunch in downtown Bend.

More Coverage

NW Raw Organic Juice Bar offers plant-based, gluten-free and organic eats

Details

What: Farmer’s Deli food truck

Location: Brooks Alley, 926 NW Brooks St., Bend

Contact: @farmers deli on Instagram

Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday-Thursday

Price Range: $7-$15

“Feeding people and cooking food for people fills my soul, fills my cup.”