20 Dec 2025 Impact Report
Click here for our 2025 Impact Report
This year has tested the resilience of our region’s food system. Economic pressures, shifting policies, and climate disruptions have come together to deepen food insecurity across the Gorge. Today, one in three of our neighbors worry about running out of food. Food banks are overwhelmed, farmers face labor shortages and market uncertainties, and vital programs supporting schools, Tribes, and small food businesses have been cut just as demand surges.
At Gorge Grown Food Network, we know these challenges cannot be addressed through any single program or quick fix. That’s why we continue to embrace a holistic approach—empowering farmers and food businesses, advancing Tribal Food Sovereignty, expanding access to healthy food, and uniting partners to build a movement for food justice. Through these efforts, we help individuals reclaim agency, connection, and self-determination.
Years ago, when we asked what motivates people to care about local food, one message stood out across our diverse communities: “The Gorge was once self-reliant, and it could be again.” Elders shared memories of community root cellars, abundant salmon in the rivers, and traditional ways of preserving food. These stories remind us that a thriving, local food system rooted in community care is not only part of our history – it is the foundation of our future.
Despite the immense challenges this year, we are deeply proud of the accomplishments of our dedicated team and partners, as detailed in the following impact report. Commitment and creativity have made real progress towards manifesting our vision of a thriving local food system where food is produced with integrity and accessible to all.
Looking ahead, our mission is clear: to build resilience across our region and within Gorge Grown. This work is complex and demanding, but together—with donors, partners, advocates, volunteers, and the communities we serve—we are forging a food system grounded in justice, abundance, and belonging strong enough to not just to endure today’s challenges, but to thrive beyond them.