July Change for Good Partner: White Oak Farm

This month, we’re proud to support White Oak Farm, an inspiring organization that blends sustainable farming, environmental education, and community nourishment—right here in Southern Oregon.

White Oak Farm is a working farm and outdoor classroom that grows thousands of pounds of organic produce annually for local schools, food banks, and families in need. But they do so much more than just grow food - they’re cultivating connection, resilience, and opportunity.

School Gardens with Purpose

One of White Oak’s newest and most heartwarming partnerships is with Hidden Valley High School’s Life Skills class. Together with the school’s Woodworking Class (and some donated cedar boards from a local mill), they built raised garden beds to grow veggies and flowers. The vegetables go into a weekly Food Share program that helps over 100 local families, and the flowers are harvested by students and sold as bouquets to staff and families. It’s a beautiful cycle of empowerment, learning, and giving back.

Growing to Share

Through their Produce Share Program, White Oak Farm works with schools and food banks to ensure students and families have access to fresh, organic fruits and veggies. Apples, kale, cheese, ferments - you name it, they’ve probably grown it. This summer, they’re partnering with the Josephine County Food Bank to stock the Williams food pantry, and come fall, they’ll be sharing thousands of pounds of butternut squash, apples, and pears with local schools.

Restoring Lands, Growing Shade

Over the past six years, White Oak Farm has grown over half a million native plants for restoration efforts along Bear Creek, the Rogue River, and beyond. Now, they’re bringing that same energy to our urban neighborhoods. With funding from the Oregon Legislature and support from several partners, they’re launching a new tree-planting initiative aimed at reducing heat in low-income communities - especially those impacted by the Almeda Fire. Thousands of trees will be grown and given away to help cool and re-green the Valley for generations to come.

How You Can Help

When you round up at the register this July, you’re supporting White Oak Farm’s incredible efforts—from school gardens to food equity to climate resilience. Thank you for helping us grow something beautiful, together.

More Co-op News

4 Ways to Reduce Your Food Waste

It’s the New Year, our favorite time for goal-setting, making positive resolutions, and shifting our impact. One of the Co-op’s goals is to become a Zero Waste facility. Our staff works to divert as much food waste as we can - and we hope our member-owners will join us in this goal too.

Meet Cooking Class Instructor Charlie Douglass

Many talented local chefs share their expertise in the Co-op Kitchen. Charlie Douglass is no exception. As the former Master Chocolatier at Harry and David, Charlie knows a thing or two about chocolate and candy making. 

Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.

Meet Cooking Class Instructor Tiazza Rose

From bread baking to Moroccan cooking, many talented local chefs share their expertise in the Co-op Kitchen. We'd like you to meet a few of them. Tiazza Rose has been teaching the Ashland community the art of Moroccan cooking for years. If you haven't taken a class from Tiazza yet, you should. Here's why.

 

Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.

Give the Gift of Wellness

 

Finding the perfect gift for a friend or loved one is an art. This winter, we carefully selected these assortments for those who love some good self-care, are working in partnership with their gut health, or for those making efforts to reduce their pain. Each of these gift ideas will help you make your loved ones feel extra special and extra healthful.

 

Give the Gift of Good Food

During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley. We’ve teamed up once again with Smart Chicken® for the Smart Giving Holiday Challenge.

Here’s how it works.

  • For every 10 pounds of Smart Chicken® you purchase from the Meat Department or the Deli, Smart Chicken® will donate one pound of chicken to a local non profit

We're All Turtles

By Dean Williamson, Board of Director

My grandmother loved to talk. Oh, could she talk! And she had one expression that I’ve always really liked. “If you come across a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be pretty sure it didn’t get there by itself.”

The Power of Principle Seven

By Emile Amarotico, General Manager

As we approach the holidays, I’d like to invoke the spirit of the Seventh Cooperative Principle: Concern for Community. The International Cooperative Alliance defines Principle Seven as when “cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.”

So how does that work? How does Ashland Food Co-op demonstrate concern for community?

Love Local with the Local Guy

Throughout September, we will be celebrating all things local. And no one loves local or is more local than our Temporary Demo Coordinator, Brighton Litjens. He was basically raised at the Co-op, has a strong passion for local farmers and producers and loves delighting shoppers with delicious samples and great deals. Who better to tell us about loving local than the "Local Guy" himself?

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Meet Board of Director Trine Ostergaard

Trine Ostergaard is a newly elected Ashland Food Co-op Board of Director. She brings a world, literally, of experience to the table and has a sincere passion and love for the Co-op. We are thrilled to have her aboard and asked her to answer a few questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Meet Board of Director Dean Williamson

Dean Williamson is a newly elected Ashland Food Co-op Board of Director. He brings to the table a plethora of co-op experience and a love of chocolate chip cookies. We are thrilled to have him aboard and asked him to answer a few questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Staff Picks: Favorite Local Products

September is Love Local Month!  All month long we’re celebrating our local farmers and vendors with demos, events and more. Here are some of our staff's favorite local products.

Mike_SpecialtiesDepartment.jpg