THE GORGE — “The mission is pretty simple: make it easier for people in the Gorge to eat what’s grown here, and make sure farmers get fair pay and a stronger connection to the people who eat their food,” said Kiara Kashuba, executive director and co-founder of Gorge Farmer Collective. “We like to think of ourselves as a bridge. On one side, farms — some multi-generation, some just starting out — and on the other, families, restaurants, schools, and food banks who want local food but don’t always have a clear way to access it. By pooling together, we can support small farms, keep dollars local, and make it easier for folks to eat seasonally without running all over the Gorge.”
This is what led a group of local farmers to start the Gorge Farmers Collective (GCF) in the early days of the pandemic, a local farmer-to-table co-op that has recently added doorstep deliveries for a $10 flat fee or free for orders over $150 in Hood River, Bingen, Underwood and White Salmon in addition to their five current pickup locations in Hood River, White Salmon, Mosier, The Dalles and Lyle to increase accessibility to fresh, locally grown food.
“We know not everyone can make it to a pickup site on a weeknight,” said Kashuba. “This new delivery service is about making it even easier for our neighbors to eat locally, support family farms, and enjoy what’s fresh and in season from a collection of regional producers without adding one more errand to the list.”
Customers can place orders at gorgefarmers.com between Thursday at 8 a.m. and Monday at 10 a.m., then choose pickup or delivery at checkout. Orders are hand-packed Wednesday morning for same-day distribution, with a wholesale option via the GFC Wholesale Program, utilized by local businesses like Soča in White Salmon.
“We’ve got a full household, and GFC has made things so much easier. Ordering is quick, pickup is simple, and the selection is fun to mix it up every season. It’s one of those small changes that made a big difference in how we eat and how we support the community around us,” said Carrie Munz, a White Salmon shopper. Another customer and one of the GFC pickup hosts said, “I strongly value eating seasonally and supporting our neighbors instead of some big-box supply chain has been the biggest win for me. It’s become part of my weekly rhythm and it’s always exciting to get my delivery.”
There is a wide selection available from more than 50 farms, “from berries to bok choy, pasture-raised pork to pantry staples,” said a press release. “A lot of households keep it simple,” said Kashuba. “Greens, eggs, bread, seasonal fruit, maybe some meat or cheese. In summer, orders get colorful with berries, peaches, tomatoes, peppers. In the fall, people stock up on squash, apples, root veggies. Some folks treat it like their weekly grocery run, while others use it to add in seasonal fresh favorites to their weekly meals.”
“It’s a joy to bring what we grow straight to local households,” said Lisa Perry, an orchardist growing pears, apples, cherries, peaches and other fruits in the Upper Hood River Valley. “Adding a home delivery component to our co-op makes local food more accessible, more convenient, and more fun, whether you’re planning meals, hosting guests, or just trying to eat a little better and find yourself more connected to your own backyard.”
Many spoke of the connection and community that this type of grocery shopping brings. “We moved to the Gorge recently and the Collective helped us feel plugged in right away,” said Lexi Stickel, a customer in The Dalles. “Now we know the farms behind our food, we try new things each season, and we feel more connected to this place. It’s not just convenient, it’s a really special way to support local growers.”
Kashuba added, “It’s really special to see people ordering food from the same neighbors they bump into at school pickup or the farmer’s market. There’s a sense of trust and pride that comes with that.”
GFC remains a true cooperative: every participating farm owns a stake in the business and has a vote in how it’s run. Gorge Farmer Collective also partners with community organizations to coordinate various food access programs, and collaborates with local food banks and wholesale community partners like schools, restaurants, and hospitals. They are hoping to expand their delivery area in the future while balancing the difficult logistics of a wide rural area, “so mapping routes that work for both the GFC team and customers took some time to test to ensure we kept it fresh without creating excess waste. It’s still a work in progress,” said Kashuba.
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