Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..
Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Updated: September 29, 2025 @ 8:35 pm
Jacqueline Alexander, Morale Orchards, Hood River, was one of the 2024 Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture award winners.
Contributed photoTHE GORGE — Thanks to support from agricultural and food companies Cargill and UNFI, National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC) announced an expanded 2024 Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture cohort in January that includes farmers and ranchers from across the U.S.
This year’s cohort includes Jacqueline Alexander, Morale Orchards, Hood River.
Now in its second year, Acres trains and certifies Black farmers and ranchers as diverse suppliers. Its goal is to help increase incomes as producers access new markets including commodities, grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets.
Alexander, founder & CEO of Morale Orchards, has created Know Your Fruit, a single-origin, freeze-dried fruit snack brand based in Hood River.
“This year’s cohort represents the rich diversity and potential of the Black agricultural community,” said Jetheda Hernandez, NMSDC senior director of strategic alliances and programs. “We look forward to the more inclusive and sustainable food supply chain they will help create.”
“I am delighted to be a part of the community alongside fellow Black farmers,” Alexander said.
“The 2017 Census of Agriculture reveals that Hood River County has only one Black farmer, underscoring the importance of this opportunity to cultivate a sense of community. The Acres Program seamlessly aligns with our mission to address disparities in the U.S. agricultural industry and establish a pathway for emerging black farmers, with a particular focus on youth," Alexander said.
“I am pleased to announce Morale Orchards collaboration with Tuskegee University as we embark on an initiative titled ‘Transforming Food Systems through Equity-Driven Agriscience Technology Education: The Farm to Snack 360 Model’ that will initially involve working with high school students from De La Salle North Catholic High School, with strategic plans to expand the program in the upcoming years," she added.
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