Alix Danielsen

Restoration Project Manager, Hood River Watershed Group

Alix Danielsen has worked in the agricultural and environmental fields for over 15 years, including stints in the wine business, agricultural conservation management, non-profit management, and now in restoration ecology. Alix developed a passion for and dedication to sustainable, local food systems through her varied experience working in the agricultural world, including growing wine grapes on a 600-acre farm, running a small CSA, and serving on the board of Growing Gardens, a Portland-based food justice organization. Alix is grateful to continue supporting food system work at Gorge Grown. Alix has a BA in Psychology from Princeton University and a Masters in Environmental Management from Portland State University.

Alma Gaeta

Organic Orchardist, Peachwood Orchard

Alma grew up mesmerized by her grandfather farming in Zacatecas, Mexico; trailing after him in the corn fields. It was remarkable to note his physical strength, the tranquility in his eyes, and the community he built through his work. His stories of working as a Bracero opened up a life-long interest in agriculture and social justice. Alma is an organic peach orchardist in Hood River, first generation Mexican-American. She has a Bachelors in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and currently working on her Masters in Environmental Studies. She is also involved with several organizations focused on Latinx leadership and social justice including Comunidades and CultureSeed with the intent of serving our community. 

Buck Jones

Board President

Cayuse/ Umatilla Tribal Member

Salmon Marketing Specialist, Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Commission

Buck is an enrolled Cayuse member, one of the bands of Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation. (CTUIR) He was raised practicing Sovereign rights including hunting, fishing and gathering First Foods. Buck attended the College of Southern Idaho in general studies and the Scottsdale Community College with a focus on Native American Treaty Law and Policy. Buck is Columbia River Treaty Fisherman who has done various duties including catching, processing, and marketing of Tribal Caught Salmon for decades. He was employed at Ain Dah Yung in St Paul, MN an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless American Indian Youth from 1997 through 2000. He has also been a Transportation Coordinator and a Family Advocate. Buck has been employed through Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission in various capacities since 2004. His first position was on Operation and Maintenance Staff of In Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites. He then transferred into Fish Science Department working on Upstream Migration Project at Bonneville Dam in 2011. In September of 2015, he took his current position as Field Marketing Specialist in the Salmon Marketing Program. This position has allowed Buck to work on markets, provide training on Food and Boat Safety, Quality Handling and Product Development for approximately 600 Tribal Fisherman. It has also allowed him to be involved in various national and regional Tribal Food Sovereignty Groups along with being Gorge Grown’s Food Security Coalition.

Edwina King

Board Treasurer

Farmer, Stamboom Meats

Edwina King owns and operates Stamboom, a small-scale, land-focused farm in the Hood River Valley where she produces value-added meat products and charcuterie. Edwina has extensive farming experience, from small scale vegetable operations to meat production. She has worked with the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program at U.C. Davis to develop experiential learning opportunities for students around agriculture and local food systems. She has served on the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a first generation South African-American.

Rachel Suits

Board Secretary

White Salmon Valley School District, After School and Summer School Program Director

Rachel has previously worked with OSU Extension Service in Hood River and Wasco Counties managing the Master Gardener program in Hood River and Small Farms programs in both counties. She grew up on a small hobby farm in the San Joaquin Valley in California where she first learned that pulling weeds was therapeutic and cooking from the garden provided a creative outlet. Her B.A. from UC Berkeley in Integrated Biology allowed her to discover the enormity of nature and the humble feeling it creates. She has her M.A. in Education from Antioch University in Seattle where she was a high school science teacher before obtaining her M.S. in Entomology from North Carolina State University. Her studies emphasized Integrated Pest Management, and she had the opportunity to work with both large conventional growers as well as smaller organic growers doing research and consulting. Now she enjoys working and collaborating with local organizations and non-profits to strengthen the local food system. One of her favorite parts of her agriculture work is communicating with a diversity of growers and hearing their experiences. As an educator, she has extensive experience interacting with many different people towards a common learning goal. She is enthusiastic and genuinely interested in the passions of others, especially when they share their excitement for growing plants and eating nutritious foods.

Juan Reyes

Community Outreach Consultant

Associate Director of Washington Gorge Action Programs

Juan has lived in the Gorge his whole life and has passion for serving the community he grew up in. He helped launch Gorge Grown’s Mercado del Valle, and has supported Mercado for over a decade. For the past 15 years Juan has served in various roles for many non-profit organizations and projects throughout the Gorge. In his free time Juan enjoys spending time with his 3 beautiful daughters, working on DIY projects, his art and learning new skills.