- 01
The seeds for GFC were sown in March 2020 during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.
“The farms that produce year-round in the area—such as mushrooms, microgreens, and meat—saw their wholesale and restaurant sales screech to a halt, with most if not all accounts disappearing overnight,” says Kiara Kashuba... “Seasonal farms with flower, fruit, and vegetable production had already ordered seeds and began propagating and were worried about where they would sell their harvests for the upcoming season.
“There was also a period of uncertainty surrounding whether farmers markets in the Gorge would be allowed to continue under new COVID restrictions. Knowing at the time we couldn’t rely on our existing sales channels to move our products, a small group of farmers came together to devise a pivot, and the Gorge Farmer Collective was born.”
Each member owns an equal share of the business and has an equal vote in how it operates. Members commit to work a few shifts a month. Farm members receive dividends at the end of the year.
“It’s truly a grassroots approach that practices deep collaboration, self-governance, and autonomy,” Kiara says. “We believe our local food system is stronger when we work together.”
The cooperative approach allows for a variety of offerings, including a range of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, mushrooms, eggs, and meats.
- 02
The Gorge Farmer Collective (GFC) is an online marketplace with selections of produce, flowers, meats, eggs, teas, and more locally produced goods.
It doesn’t get any easier than this: place your order online each week from Thursday through Sunday at gorgefarmers.com, and then pick up your bounty the following Wednesday afternoon between 4-6 p.m. at six pickup locations conveniently located throughout the Gorge: The Dalles, Lyle, Mosier, White Salmon, Parkdale, or Hood River.
GFC is a farmer-owned Cooperative in its second year of operation, with 25 farmers and growing strong! Being a Cooperative means that each participating farm equally owns the business, and has an equal vote in its governance - a truly grassroots and autonomous approach to building our local food system. Its mission is rooted in promoting and fostering local family farmers while providing customers with a diverse selection of some of the finest and freshest foods sustainably grown in the Gorge. The Cooperative strengthens connections between producers and consumers, simplifying the process from farm to table. The Cooperative recognizes that the Columbia Gorge food system is unique and dynamic, and aims to build its richness, health, equity, and resilience through broad collaboration.
- 03
A small group of Gorge farmers have created a new business: Gorge Farmer Collective. It’s easy to order—just type “Gorge Farmer Collective” in your search engine, and it will take you to their website. Then just place your order anytime between Thursday 8 a.m. through Sunday midnight. Pick up your order every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at a convenient location website directs you to. You can register as a customer or a producer to benefit each other in the community. Let’s give these new entrepreneurs some support and eat healthy while doing so.
- 04
The other new addition in the Estes parking lot is the Gorge Farmer Collective’s refrigerated trailer. The Farmer’s Collective runs an online farmers’ marketplace with selections of produce, flowers, meats, eggs, teas, breads, cheese, vinegars and other locally produced sundries. Pickup locations are located throughout the Gorge, and the Mt. View Grange is White Salmon’s pick-up spot. The Gorge Farmer Collective mission is rooted in promoting and fostering local family farmers while providing customers with a diverse selection of some of the finest and freshest foods sustainably grown in the Gorge. Place your order online each week at gorgefarmers.com.