Board & Staff
Meet the Team Behind the Gorge Farmer Collective
Gorge Farmer Collective is powered by a small, dedicated team working to connect local farms with communities across the Columbia River Gorge and Portland Metro region. From coordinating logistics and supporting producers to building partnerships and expanding access to local food, our team is focused on strengthening a more resilient regional food system.
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We work closely with farmers, food access programs, schools, and local businesses to make it easier to grow, distribute, and enjoy food grown in our region. Whether it’s behind the scenes or out in the community, our team is committed to building lasting relationships that support both producers and the people they feed.
​Get to know the people behind the work.
Our Board of Directors
Our leadership team consists of Cooperative farmers and community members.
Chair
Merritt co-founded M&P Ranches with her partner Pierre, building a sheep operation rooted in quality, care, and connection to the land. As Chair of Gorge Farmers Collective, she brings that same thoughtful approach to supporting producers across the region. Her work reflects a deep commitment to both the animals they raise and the broader agricultural community they’re part of.
Co-Chair
Paul co-runs Total Eclipse Farm with his partner Julie, growing vegetables and berries in the upper Hood River Valley. As Treasurer of Gorge Farmers Collective, he supports the organization’s financial health while staying closely connected to the realities of small-scale farming. His work reflects a commitment to sustainable practices, local food access, and supporting the broader farming community.
Secretary
Matt is a farmer at Costarossa Farm in Hood River, where he grows a diverse mix of vegetables and flowers using natural, pesticide-free practices. As a board member at large for Gorge Farmers Collective, he brings a hands-on, grower perspective to supporting local producers. His work reflects a commitment to thoughtful farming and a healthy regional food system.
Our Staff & Contractors
We employ two full-time and one part-time staff to make sure everything runs smoothly day to day along with supporting contractors for specialized needs.
Executive Director
Kiara Kashuba
White Salmon, WA
Kiara co-founded Gorge Farmer Collective (GFC) in 2020 and joined the organization as its Executive Director in 2022. She holds a degree in Planning, Public Policy & Management from the University of Oregon’s College of Design, where she specialized in nonprofit administration, food studies, and environmental studies.
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Born and raised in Portland (a proud Oregon gal through and through!), Kiara moved to the Gorge in 2017 for a service year with the RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) AmeriCorps program, stationed with Oregon State University Extension Service in Wasco County.
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She went on to work with local community food systems nonprofit Gorge Grown Food Network, where she ran a gleaning program, provided technical assistance for Farm to School initiatives, and managed a mobile farmers market. These experiences deepened her commitment to building local food systems that work for farmers and communities alike.
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Kiara is grateful to now be part of building GFC alongside the farmers who own it, working to create a more resilient regional food system where farmers have greater control over how their food is marketed and sold—and where good food can feed the communities that grow it.
Operations Manager
Haley Albers
Parkdale, OR
Haley is a longtime Gorge resident who has been involved in the local food system since 2019. With a background in vegetable and mushroom farming, she brings hands-on experience from working farmers markets to delivering produce across the region. As Operations Manager at Gorge Farmers Collective, she coordinates delivery routes, organizes orders across 30+ producers, and helps ensure everything moves smoothly from farm to customer. Her work reflects a practical, solutions-oriented approach and a strong commitment to supporting local farmers and keeping good food moving through the community.
Warehousing & Transportation Assistant
This could be you! ;)
Columbia River Gorge
Bio coming soon
Institutional Sales Lead | Contractor
Abigail Blinn
Kitchen Sync Strategies
Abigail@KitchenSyncStrategies.com
Abigail is a registered dietitian who has spent six years strengthening regional food systems by connecting public institutions across Oregon and Washington with local farmers and food hubs. As Pacific Northwest Regional Sales Lead at Kitchen Sync Strategies, she focuses on making values-based procurement easier through relationship-building, strategic planning, and improving access to local foods.
Design & Marketing Lead | Contractor
Bri Romancier
Fourth Wall Creative
Bri@fourthwallportland.com
Bri is the founder of Fourth Wall Creative, where she partners with businesses in the food, hospitality, and service industries to build brands, websites, and marketing strategies from the ground up. With over a decade of work across agencies and in-house teams, she brings a hands-on, behind-the-scenes approach to every project. Her work is rooted in collaboration and supports organizations that strengthen local systems and community access.