In 2024, the Gorge Grown Food Network reported that its three farmers’ markets generated $1.5 million for the local economy. A significant portion of this success comes from local vendors, 75% of whom are women. At a bulk buying market in November, these vendors received an additional $33,000 in support.
This nonprofit focuses on increasing the supply of locally-produced food and improving access for everyone. They provided crucial support to low-income families, delivering 860 holiday meal boxes and collecting 12,000 pounds of produce for local food banks through their Gorge Glean initiative. Customers using SNAP cards benefited too, with a total of $110,851 in matching funds available by the end of the year.
Last November, Gorge Grown also helped deliver 130 holiday food boxes to Native American families. This effort, known as the Indigenous Nations’ Delicious Food Celebrations (INDFEAST), aims to provide holiday meals to rural families in various counties, including Skamania, Wasco, Klickitat, and Hood River. The program involved food sourced from Organically Grown Co., in partnership with several local organizations, ensuring that community members received the support they needed during the holiday season.
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food industry, food politics, agriculture, malnutrition, economy, farmers
