THE GORGE — Food insecurity deepened, gleaning and markets gained importance: “One in three of your neighbors worry about running out of food,” read Gorge Grown’s year-end impact report.
In the Gorge, “food banks are overwhelmed, farmers face labor shortages and market uncertainties, and vital programs supporting schools, Tribes, and small food businesses have been cut just as demand surges,” said the report.
This year, Gorge grown sent $140,000 in SNAP and match funding into local farmers’ markets; gave mini-grants to 20 businesses; gleaned 57,000 pounds of fresh produce that would otherwise have rotted in the fields, helped by 230 volunteers; organized a one-day bulk buying market that got farmers $40,000 just before winter.
According to the report, farmers’ markets brought $1.6 million to the local economy in 2025, with 75% of vendors owned or co-owned by women.
“Years ago, when we asked what motivates people to care about local food, one message stood out across our diverse communities: ‘The Gorge was once self-reliant, and it could be again.’ Elders shared memories of community root cellars, abundant salmon in the rivers, and traditional ways of preserving food. These stories remind us that a thriving, local food system rooted in community care is not only part of our history — it is the foundation of our future,” read the report.
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