Member News

Organically Grown Company’s Journey to Trust Ownership – and Beyond

By Sarah Joannides, Alternative Ownership Advisors Founded in 1978, Organically Grown Company has been a pioneer in sustainable, organic agriculture for over 40 years. From its roots as a nonprofit started by activists, OGC has grown into one of the largest independent organic produce distributors in the US. Along the way, they have evolved and iterated their ownership structure to continually deepen their mission and multi-stakeholder approach, a journey which took them from nonprofit to farmers’ cooperative, and [Read More]

New International Guide to Fair Trade Labels

by Anna Canning “What’s the difference between all these fair trade labels?” It’s a question we get a lot at Fair World Project. And now there’s an updated set of resources to help answer that question, thanks to a global coalition of academics and fair trade organizations. The updated International Guide to Fair Trade Labels provides an in-depth analysis of the main fair trade labels in the global marketplace as well as outlines current trends in ethical labeling and the [Read More]

Sustainable Food and Agriculture Perpetual Purpose Trust Announces Elections Results

by Sustainable Food and Agriculture Perpetual Purpose Trust Trust Protector Committee Election Announcement The Trust Enforcers have just tallied up the votes from its first election for the Trust Protector Committee, and are pleased to announce the new members: JYOTI STEPHENS (Nature’s Path Foods) DAVID LIVELY (Organically Grown Company) A total of 119 qualified stakeholders participated in the voting. Profiles of both newly elected members are listed below. The Trust Protector Committee is charged with appointing the Board of [Read More]

Provender Conference Scholarship Winner to Open Food Business Incubator

by Kara, Martin – Program Director, Food Innovation Network The construction site will soon be ready for Tukwila Village Food Hall. This spring 2020, Food Innovation Network (FIN) will open Tukwila Village Food Hall, the future home of FIN’s Food Business Incubator. The new facility will help low-income South King County entrepreneurs–primarily immigrants and refugees–launch and build businesses. FIN is excited to share that we’ve raised 74% of our $975,000 capital campaign goal. In addition to raising funds, we’ve been [Read More]

Northbest Natural Products Offers Organic Saffron Grown in Washington State

Northbest Natural Products is offering the first locally grown, certified organic saffron from Chelan, WA. For the last five years, the spice has been grow using organic methods but transitioned to certification in 2019. Branded as “Cyprus Saffron”, the company is a small family owned business, that grows the exotic spice on their 12-acre ranch, where the dry and hot climate in Easter Washington provides the perfect environment for the saffron. A recent interview by local National Public Radio station [Read More]

Pre-Conference Workshop at 2020 EcoFarm entitled Organic Survival: Practical Strategies for Resistance, Resilience, and Regeneration

Organically Grown Company is sponsoring a pre-conference workshop at the EcoFarm Conference in January entitled “Organic Survival: Practical Strategies for Resistance, Resilience, and Regeneration.” Presenters will include three Provender Alliance members: Brenna Davis (PCC Community Markets, Seattle, WA), Elizabeth Nardi (Organically Grown Company, Eugene, OR), Bob Quinn (Kamut International, Big Sandy, MN), and Albert Straus (Straus Family Creamery, Petaluma, CA). The Registration is now open for EcoFarm and the workshop.workshop will take place on Wednesday, January 22, from 9 a.m. [Read More]

Free Herbalism Workshops in Eugene on October 13 – Hosted by Mountain Rose Herbs

Free Herbalism Workshops in Eugene, OR on October 13: Featuring Expert Herbalists Nicole Telkes and Doug Elliot Mountain Rose Herbs (MRH), is proud to present its 13th Free Herbalism Project at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum on Sunday, October 13 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Free Herbalism Project is a full day of herbal education, live music, food vendors, and all the organic tea you can drink. Nicole Telkes (pronounced: Tell-KISH) will be sharing her passion surrounding Fire Cider [Read More]

OGC to Host Sustainable Food & Agriculture Perpetual Purpose Trust (SFAPPT) Annual Stakeholder Gathering

About a year ago Organically Grown Company made a decision to protect its mission for the long-term by transitioning its ownership into a purpose trust. This groundbreaking corporate structure is a form of “steward ownership”–while most businesses serve to maximize profits for shareholders, steward-owned companies focus on maximizing returns to purpose and engaging all stakeholders. One year later, OGC is moving towards qualifying their first “stakeholder” base. Stakeholders are responsible for electing candidates to the Trust Protector Committee annually, and [Read More]

Coconut Bliss Provides Updates to Women Entrepreneurs Initiative in Philippines

In 2018, Coconut Bliss committed $20,000 to efforts aimed at improving the lives of women in the Philippines through opportunities to start their own businesses. As a woman-led business with a company vision of “Blissful Experiences for All Beings”, Coconut Bliss was inspired by Project Drawdown to find a way to support and enhance the rights and well-being of women and girls. As stated in the book “Drawdown”, which includes the work of 300 scientists, “women and girls are pivotal [Read More]

Vice President of People and Planet Job Opening – Organically Grown Company (Eugene)

THE COMPANY: In most workplaces, throwing tomatoes at your boss would be frowned upon. At Organically Grown Company, we have a day set aside each year to do just that – the world knows it as the Tomato WAR, we call it group catharsis. The organic produce industry is not for the faint of heart but will steal yours if you aren’t careful. We work really hard each and every day to bring the best organic produce to market from [Read More]

Alyssa Harding to head Sustainable Food Trade Association

New Castle, VA (July 23, 2019) The Sustainable Food Trade Association (SFTA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce its selection of Alyssa Harding as the next SFTA Executive Director. “We are thrilled to bring on Alyssa as Executive Director (ED) at this important juncture for the organization. With the increasing public concern about everything from climate change to disposable packaging, companies involved with the food system are uniquely positioned— both as impacted parties and positive change agents—to address these [Read More]

Organically Grown Company Welcomes New Innovative Leadership

Mike Boyle moves into VP of Sales and Sourcing role and Bryce White joins as VP of Business Operations PORTLAND, Ore. – July 9, 2019 – Northwest-based organic produce distributor Organically Grown Company (OGC) has recently promoted Mike Boyle to Vice President of Sales and Sourcing and welcomed Bryce White as Vice President of Business Operations. Mike Boyle brings an exceptionally strong and diverse background in produce retail, wholesale distribution, commodity procurement, sales, and team leadership. Mike joined OGC in [Read More]

Final Week to Apply for Mountain Rose Herbs’ $4,000 Grants 4 Plants Opportunity

One Week Left to Apply for $4,000 Grants4Plants Opportunity Five $4,000 grants to be given to mission-driven botanical lovers Eugene, Oregon –Mountain Rose Herbs (MRH) is one week away from closing entry to its second annual Grants 4 Plants program. This grant opportunity, funded entirely by MRH, will award five $4,000 grants to people or organizations that need extra assistance to bring their plant- or conservation-centric projects to fruition. Applicants must: Create a video (under three minutes) that describes the project [Read More]

Organically Grown Company Spearheads Passage of Landmark Legislation Offering Businesses a New Stewardship Trust Model

Oregon Passes Landmark Legislation Offering Businesses a New Stewardship Trust Model Portland, Ore. – July 3, 2019 – For Oregon’s mission-driven businesses, one of the biggest wins during the 2019 Legislative Session was Governor Kate Brown signing into law a bill making Oregon the first state in the nation to adopt a new alternative ownership option called the Stewardship Trust. House Bill 2598 was sponsored by Representative Julie Fahey (D-Eugene), a longtime business consultant who recognized that private sector leaders [Read More]

Good Food Awards Entry Period Now Open

2020 GOOD FOOD AWARDS ENTRY PERIOD NOW OPEN Accepting entries July 8-31, including new Grains category San Francisco, CA (July 8, 2019) – Today marks the launch of a coast-to-coast call for entries of beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, elixirs, honey, fish, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks, spirits and (new this year) grains. The Good Food Awards celebrates the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic and responsibly produced. As the only national initiative to recognize [Read More]