2026 Schedule & Workshops

Early Registration, half-day Intensive Session and half-day Field Trip

• Breakfast pastries (V)
• Fruit Salad (VG) (GF)
• Good Morning Board: prosciutto, Canadian bacon, smoked cheddar, herbed cream cheese, plain bagels, grapes
• Coffee and Tea
• Assorted juices

Business with Purpose: From Aspiration to Action 

What does it take for a business to create value for people, communities, and the planet while remaining resilient and successful in a changing world? Join Purpose Pledge co-founder Les Szabo, Chief Strategy & Impact Officer of Dr. Bronner’s, Cameron Stearns, CEO/CFO of Mountain Rose Herbs and Rachel Budde, Founder and CEO of Fat & the Moon for an engaging exploration of what it means to embed purpose throughout a business.

This intensive offers an opportunity to connect with purpose-driven leaders and deepen understanding of how businesses put purpose into practice. Through real-world examples, peer conversation, and practical insights, participants will learn how organizations are embedding purpose into governance, culture, operations, workforce practices, supply chains, and community impact. Hear how companies of varying sizes and stages are strengthening workplace culture, advancing sustainability, building ethical and resilient supply chains, and generating lasting value for people and planet.

Whether your organization is considering the Purpose Pledge or simply seeking new ways to align values with practice, this session offers a welcoming space to learn, share experiences, and build relationships with others committed to building a more equitable and regenerative economy. You’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, and renewed inspiration to move your organization from aspiration to action.

Les Szabo | Chief Strategy & Impact Officer | Dr. Bronner’s

Les Szabo is Chief Strategy & Impact Officer at Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America. He joined Dr. Bronner’s in 2013. In his current role, Les guides company-wide strategic planning and leads initiatives that strengthen organizational capabilities and drive sustainable growth. He oversees four core functions: Organizational Planning & Project Management, Philanthropy, International Markets, and E-Commerce. Les also serves on Dr. Bronner’s Board of Directors.

Previously, Les served as Director and later Vice President of Constructive Capital and oversaw Dr. Bronner’s charitable giving, impact investments, and strategic support for mission-aligned nonprofits and social enterprises.

Les is also the Board Chair of the Purpose Pledge, a global initiative focused on driving measurable impact by aligning stakeholders, capital, and purpose-driven companies. The Purpose Pledge establishes clear, rigorous criteria for what it means to lead with purpose—moving beyond single-issue approaches to offer a holistic, accountable framework that enables companies to operationalize purpose as a core strategic driver of long-term value.

His work is informed by over twenty years of experience working in the natural products and apparel industries. Les was a co-founder of the brands Living Harvest, Dunderdon, and Infinity Sport. Les lives in Portland, Oregon.

Cameron Stearns | CEO / CFO | Mountain Rose Herbs

Cameron Stearns discovered her love for all things organic and sustainable in the 1990’s working shifts at the Olympia Food Co-Op as part of her volunteer/membership responsibilities. For her it has always been crucial to work somewhere that holds up the highest ideals and stays true to its values. After getting her degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC and forging that into a career as a Certified Public Accountant she found her forever home at Mountain Rose Herbs, an independently-owned, core organic, native ecommerce herbal supplier. Mountain Rose Herbs, an Oregon Benefit Company, is renowned for its sustainable practices including being the first Zero-Waste certified company in Oregon. She has been with the company for a decade and serves as CEO/CFO.

Rachel Budde | Founder & CEO | Fat and the Moon

Rachel Budde is a clinical herbalist, teacher, and founder and CEO of Fat and the Moon, a handcrafted herbal body care company devoted to bringing intention and botanical benefit into everyday ritual. Continuing a legacy of herbal medicine, Rachel sees topical body care as a gateway into deeper relationships with plants through firsthand understanding of the efficacy of plant medicine.

Rachel’s work as an herbalist is deeply connected to her Slovenian heritage. Since 2015, she has conducted ethnobotanical research in Slovenia, documenting medicinal plants and their traditional folk uses. This ongoing research will culminate in her forthcoming book. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Herbal Medicine at Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Through Fat and the Moon and her broader work, Rachel explores business as a living intersection of social, economic, and environmental systems. She believes that when approached with intention, business can become a generative practice, one capable of aligning material needs with our values, our communities, and the ecosystems that sustain us.

Step beyond the conference room and experience the people and places that help shape our regional food system.

We’ll begin with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Organically Grown Company, the nation’s only purpose driven, trust owned marketer of premium organic produce. You’ll get a firsthand look at the logistics, relationships, and infrastructure that bring fresh organic produce from farms to retailers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

From there, we’ll visit Feed’em Freedom Foundation in Troutdale, a nonprofit urban farm and education center that is transforming lives through regenerative agriculture, workforce development, and community food access. Together, we’ll explore how farming can serve as a powerful tool for environmental stewardship, education, and social impact.

We’ll wrap up the afternoon at The Highlands, just down the road from Edgefield, where you’ll have time to relax, enjoy great food and drinks, and connect with fellow attendees before the conference officially kicks off.

Whether you’re passionate about farming, distribution, retail, or simply curious about how a resilient regional food system comes together, this field trip offers a unique opportunity to see our values in action.

Kick off our 50th Annual Conference with an evening of great food, conversation, and community at The Highlands, Troutdale’s newest gathering place, right down the street from Edgefield. This thoughtfully designed food cart pod and beer garden offers a welcoming atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating, award-winning Wayfinder Beer, and plenty of space to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. We will be meeting in the upstairs loft!

We will be enjoying a specially crafted seasonal radicchio salad alongside handcrafted pizza flatbreads featuring local, organic, seasonal toppings generously donated by Organically Grown Company. Not into pizza? There are plenty of other dinner choices available onsite for purchase.

We will be joined by guests from Culinary Breeding Network for a tasting and some fun seasonal chat about the NW bitter darling, radicchio and introduction to their new book – Radicchio: A Celebration of the Beloved Italian Vegetable!

Meet at the front desk for an informal group stroll to explore all of the gorgeous spaces at McMenamins Edgefield.

• Breakfast pastries (V)
• Fruit Salad (VG) (GF)
• Scrambled eggs (V) (GF)
• Bacon (GF)
• Black bean patty (VG)
• Cottage Potatoes (VG) (GF)
• Coffee and Tea
• Various juices

The New Food Opportunity: Nourishing People, Communities & Planet

How brands and retailers can lead the shift toward a healthier, more resilient food system

What if the next opportunity in food is not simply to sell healthier products, but to rethink what it means to nourish people and planet?

The way we grow, raise, and produce food influences far more than what ends up on our plates. Farming practices shape soil health, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate resilience, and, in turn, can influence the nutritional quality and other benefits of the food we eat. The wellbeing of our food system is deeply connected to the wellbeing of our communities, our environment, and ultimately the Earth and all of its inhabitants.

Brands and retailers occupy a unique position in this transformation. Through what and how we create, source, promote, and purchase, we can help shift both consumer choices and the systems behind them.

Whether you are stocking the shelves of one store, building a natural foods brand, or have been part of this movement for decades, there is a place for you in this work. Together, we can move beyond “better for you” toward a food system that truly nourishes people, communities, and planet.

Mary Purdy, MS, RDN, is a food systems strategist, educator, and eco-dietitian working at the intersection of nutrition, sustainable food systems, climate, and human health. With more than 13 years of clinical experience using a Food Is Medicine approach, she has advised nonprofits, mission-driven organizations and food businesses on nutrition, sustainability, and systems change. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Initiative, advancing the connection between soil health, regenerative agriculture, and nutrient-rich food. Mary taught for eight years at Bastyr University and was Adjunct Faculty in The Culinary Institute of America’s Master’s Program in Sustainable Food Systems, where she currently serves as Strategic Program Manager for the Menus of Change Leadership Summit. A sought-after speaker, author of two books, contributor to industry reports and white papers, and host of more than 130 podcast episodes, Mary helps bridge healthcare, agriculture, and food systems to cultivate healthier people, communities, and a more resilient planet. More at https://marypurdy.co/about-mary/

• How do we build a regional supply chain that works for everyone?
• Preserving Your Legacy and Staying Rooted to Your Purpose Through Challenge and Change
• Grains and Legumes
• Attunement for the Nervous System

• Grilled Chicken breast (GF)
• Steamed Rice (GF) (VG)
• Black Beans (GF) (VG)
• Mai Thai Peanut & Curry Coconut Sauces (GF) (VG)
• Rice Bowl Condiments: pickled daikon and carrot slaw, cilantro-onion condiment, green onions, fired shallots, sesame seeds, soy sauce, Sriracha (GF) (VG)
• Chocolate chip cookies (V) + GF dessert

Take a walk! Have coffee with a new conference friend! Check out the healing saltwater pool at Ruby’s Spa!

• 2026: Year of the Female Farmer
• From Farm to Shelf: Strengthening Organic Retail Through Merchandising, Education & Integrity
• From Trend to Standard: Bringing Non-UPF to Retail
• Know Your Herbs, Tell Their Story: From Source to Shelf A Hands-On Journey Through Sourcing, Tinctures & Botanical Oils

Provender’s Meet Your Makers tabletop tradeshow is your chance to connect directly with the faces and forces behind our vibrant natural products community. This high-energy, low-pressure event is designed for makers and buyers to engage, share stories, and build authentic relationships — all in true Provender style.

Whether you’re debuting a new line or strengthening connections with long-standing partners, this is your moment to shine.

Networking and spending time with our Provender community is really the best and we want more of it! We will be serving our evening food and drinks in the same space as the tabletop show, so you have more time to grab a beverage and a bite in the room next door or right on the tradeshow floor, and chat with your new connections.

Vendors – We will be serving you before the show starts so you are nourished and ready to go!

Good food is meant to be shared, and so are good ideas. Enjoy a tapas-style dinner as you explore Meet Your Makers, our tabletop trade show celebrating the incredible people behind the products, businesses, and organizations that make the Pacific Northwest’s natural products community thrive. Example menu below.

• Antipasti
• Crudites
• Deli Display
• Salt and Pepper-crusted roast prime rib
• Caprese Skewers
• Hummus in Cucumber cups
• Classic deviled eggs
• Dessert tray (VG)

Explore Edgefield! We’ve intentionally left the evening open for you to experience all that McMenamins Edgefield has to offer. Stroll the gardens, visit one of the pubs or tasting rooms, enjoy live music, visit the heated soaking pool at Ruby’s Spa, browse the artwork, or unwind with fellow attendees. Make the most of this unique setting before another full day of learning and connection.

Meet at the front desk for an informal group stroll to explore all of the gorgeous spaces at McMenamins Edgefield.

• Breakfast pastries (V)
• Fruit Salad (VG) (GF)
• Scrambled eggs (GF)
• Santa Fe Tofu Scramble (VG)
• Bacon (GF)
• Black bean patty (VG)
• Cottage Potatoes (GF) (VG)
• Coffee/Tea
• Various juices

From Roots to Renewal: Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going

What happens when a movement becomes an industry?

For 50 years, the natural products community has challenged convention, built businesses around deeply held values, and helped reshape the way we think about food, health, farming, and commerce. But as the movement has grown, so have the questions: What did we get right? What have we lost? And what do we want the next 50 years to look like?

Join Tom Lively, Shawn Donnille, and Val Emanuel for a candid, cross-generational conversation about where the natural products movement came from, what has endured, and what needs to change. From the early days of organic farming and natural products to today’s values-driven businesses and the expectations of a new generation, they’ll explore the tension between growth and independence, mission and margins, tradition and innovation, and what it takes to build an industry worth passing on.

This isn’t just a look back. It’s a conversation about what comes next: what we need to protect, what we need to let go of, and how this community can work together to shape the next 25 years.

Three generations. Fifty years of history. One big question: Where do we go from here?

Tom Lively has spent nearly five decades helping build the organic and natural foods movement in the Pacific Northwest. A farmer, produce expert, storyteller, and longtime (Inter Galactic) Account Representative with Organically Grown Company, Tom began growing organically at Thistle Organics and Riverbrook Farm in Eugene in the 1970s, long before national organic standards were established. At OGC, he spent three decades championing organic produce, cultivating relationships with farmers and independently owned retailers, developing organic programs, leading farm tours and educational events, and helping buyers and consumers understand the connection between quality produce, farmers, varieties, and the land. His work helped strengthen the regional organic supply chain and supported countless farms and growers along the way.

Known as a curious, creative, and joyful “raconteur,” Tom brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge and a remarkable memory for the people, products, and stories that shaped the organic movement. He served twice on OGC’s board, contributed to its charitable giving, created its Farm to School apple program, authored ‘Produce 101: The Botany of Produce’, and continues to farm on his Eugene property and sells the most incredible peaches, among other delicious crops, at the weekly farmers market in Eugene, OR. From growing organic sugar snap peas in 1979 to championing ethically traded organic bananas and mentoring generations of farmers, retailers, and natural products professionals, Tom’s legacy is rooted in a simple belief: great food, good relationships, and a healthy planet are all connected.

Shawn Donnille is the Owner and President of Mountain Rose Herbs, and has been with the company since 1999. He defines himself as an “entrepreneurial activist” for the purpose of changing the way that businesses conduct themselves on this planet and Mountain Rose Herbs is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished organizations with regards to sustainability initiatives. The company has given thorough consultation to numerous organizations including businesses, local and state governments, national agencies and non-profits. Shawn is a devout defender of organic agriculture, and pesticide free living, and this passion has been successfully infused with the company wide branding of Mountain Rose Herbs.

Known for adopting a first mover advantage, Mountain Rose Herbs has been in business since 1987, started a mail order catalog in 1989, and began selling online in 1999, being the first herb company to sell herbs, spices, and teas online.

Val Emanuel is the founder of Rif Care, a period company that creates biodegradable and eco friendly products out of hemp fiber and Role Models management, the first ethical talent agency that now acts as a consulting agency for brands trying to build relationships with communities of eco conscious consumers. As a creator, Val has worked with some of the top brands in the world, and made videos about subjects like sexual health, menstruation, entrepreneurship, motherhood and more. Her platforms have a reach of over 100,000 on Tiktok and IG combined, and 20+ million video views.

• From Inspiration to Implementation: Bringing your Fresh Food Ideas to Life
• What Gets You on Shelf (and What Gets You Reordered)
• Leading Through Transition: Creating Alignment as Organizations Grow
• Mushrooms & Autoimmunity: Exploring the Immunomodulatory Potential of Fungi

• Brewers Salad
• Sandwich bar including:
  • Filling: dilly tuna salad, Chickpea of the Sea Salad, turkey, pastrami
  • Cheeses: swiss, cheddar, pepper jack, creamy original Chao
  • Spreads: red pepper aioli, secret sauce, mustards, cranberry sauce, mayo
  • Veggies: tomato, pickles, lettuce, cucumber, buttermilk coleslaw, marinated red onion
  • Deli Rolls: whole wheat, ciabatta (VG), brioche, Udi’s (GF)
• Chocolate chip cookies plus GF option
• Coffee/Tea

• How to Be Competitive and Differentiate in Today’s Changing Retail Landscape
• From Idea to Shelf: What It Actually Takes to Win in Retail
• Building Belonging: A Workshop on Creating Stronger Companies, Communities, and Movements
• Building strong and resilient food system networks with Oregon Food Bank

We will close out our learning time together with a group session led by longtime Provender community educators and friends, Mark Mulcahy of Organic Options and Matt Landi, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Organic Trade Association.

Details coming soon.

Take a break! Take a walk! Take a nap! Have coffee with a conference buddy. Spend some time with the Provender historical items. Change into a costume or practice your favorite karaoke song for the evenings festivities! This is YOUR time to recharge and get ready for the Provender Alliance 50th anniversary Gala!

Great celebrations begin with great conversations. Join us for a pre-Gala social hour to connect with fellow attendees, enjoy a beverage, and settle into an evening dedicated to celebrating 50 years of Provender Alliance and the community that continues to shape its future.

• Dinner rolls (V)
• NW Spinach Salad (V)
• Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes (V) (GF)
• Wild Rice Pilaf (V) (GF)Garlic-roasted broccolini (VG) (GF)
• Poached Salmon with pinot gris-shallot beurre Blanc (GF)
• Tournedos of Beef with mushroom demi glace (GF)
• Jamaican Curried Veggie Stew (GF) (VG)

Celebrating our Legacy – 50 Years Strong!

Dust off your dancing shoes and join us for a very special evening celebrating five decades of Provender Alliance! We’ll kick things off with welcoming remarks and our annual General Membership Meeting, complete with the board’s much-anticipated (and slightly unpredictable) skit, before honoring this year’s award recipients. Then it’s time to mix, mingle, bid, win, and celebrate with our silent auction, wild raffle, and other surprises throughout the evening.

Want to donate something to our silent auction? We would be so honored. Please find a board member when you arrive and they will get your item into the mix.

Don’t for our Raffle, a true Provender favorite!! Bring a logo item from your business to add to the wall of beautiful designs. Buy some raffle tickets, and watch your closet and counter fill with rad new merchandise from some of your favorite organizations. All proceeds go to the 2026 work trade fund.

You, or your proxy, must be present to win the raffle.

All proceeds go to the 2026 Work Trade Fund.

Is it even a Provender conference without our besties, Karaoke From Hell ?

For decades, they’ve been helping Provender folks find their inner rock star and they’re back to help us celebrate 50 years of community, connection, and good times. Never experienced the thrill of being front and center with a live band behind you? This is your moment!

Whether you know every word or are relying on a little stage magic, Karaoke From Hell has your back. Grab the mic, bring your courage, and get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and Provender-style celebration.

The new Provender board meets. You are most welcome to attend!

Meet as a community for inspiring words, a sweet song and fond farewells until next year.