Making It: Sunflower butter and stevia in Eugene, Oregon
"Making It" is a new series exploring the natural food and beverage brands blossoming in cities across the United States.
A consciously sourced, USDA Organic sunflower butter spiked with the spicy-sweet flavors of turmeric and maple syrup.
The beekeeper-owners of Queen’s Bounty are dedicated to harvesting varietal honey from their carefully tended hives.
This bulk granola brand was founded in 1981, and first delivered via bicycle to Eugene’s natural food stores. This goji berry-infused paleo variety is also USDA Organic.
A longtime natural leader in the Eugene area, Nancy’s remains committed to sustainability, clean formulations and sourcing milk from Oregon family farmers.
Julie’s Organic is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, and is currently the best-selling organic novelty in the United States. The new 100-calorie Fudge Swirl ice cream sandwich is worth a taste.
A new beverage brand that features 15 grams of plant-based protein partly derived from—wait for it—hazelnuts! It’s also USDA Organic.
With his premium tea sourced from the Himalayan region of India, Young Mountain Tea founder Raj Vable hopes to raise the quality of Indian tea and introduce more profits to the tea farmers.
A legacy herbal and functional tea company that prioritizes USDA Organic, fair trade and effective, condition-specific ingredients.
Luna & Larry’s award-winning coconut milk-based ice creams are cult favorites among vegans and those who eschew dairy. The company is also a leader in upholding sustainable business practices.
This sugar-free, stevia-based cocoa syrup from NuNaturals represents how high-quality ingredients—excellent stevia and organic, Fair Trade Certified cocoa—truly make a difference in taste.
This sugar-free, stevia-based cocoa syrup from NuNaturals represents how high-quality ingredients—excellent stevia and organic, Fair Trade Certified cocoa—truly make a difference in taste.
Nestled in Oregon's lush Willamette Valley, famous for crafting some of the best pinot noirs in the country, lies Eugene, Oregon, a vibrant city that has been a bastion of the natural products industry for decades. Nancy’s Organic, for example, has been slinging probiotic-packed yogurt in the area since the 1960s; Yogi Tea has been brewing up herbal blends since 1984.
Now, according to Micah Elconin, founder and principal of the food and beverage consultancy Season to Taste, Eugene is busting with exciting natural goodies. “The Eugene area has been producing best in class natural food companies for decades,” he says. “The 165 food and beverage manufacturers that exist in our area benefit from a deep pool of talent, infrastructure and support services that help continue to accelerate the launch of new brands.”
Other factors that lend to Eugene’s natural products industry growth include a fervent focus on organic and sustainable agriculture in the Willamette Valley, and support for local products and healthy eating from the passionate community. “We think Eugene is a great incubator for natural foods because our community is so passionate and supportive of what we are trying to do. That includes all of the customers at events and farmers markets who ask tons of questions,” says Jessica Jones, owner of Queen’s Bounty, a raw honey brand. “This interest from customers really helps our great local network of natural food stores feel confident supporting ours and other natural products.”
Here, learn more about just a handful of natural foods and beverages from the Eugene, Oregon, area, and keep an eye out for more products launching from this hotbed of food-focused innovation.
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