Who We Are
Our Mission:
Food Roots exists to cultivate a healthy food system in Tillamook County and the North Coast of Oregon
Food Roots' purpose is to serve as a catalyst and advocate for change in our food system. We do this by forging strong and fruitful partnerships and by empowering communities and individuals to be more food self-reliant.
Food Roots' programs include: Community and School Gardens, Outreach and Education, Community Development and Economic Development. Our programs strive to increase local food production and access, increase community assets, support beginning farmers, and strengthen our regional economy. We produce and share local food, raise awareness and understanding, provide training and educational resources and work to increase food system infrastructure. We are not a food bank, but we do provide local fresh produce from our garden programs to area food banks and food pantries.
Food Roots believes access to healthy food is a basic right for all people. We also believe investing in local food is just plain common sense and that investment will provide a powerful return. The North Coast region of Oregon has many assets: our rural self-reliant culture, the maritime climate, rich soil, abundant natural resources, and caring communities. All of these are important ingredients we can use to create a healthier food system. Local food has the potential to transform the communities, economies and the land on the North Oregon Coast. We encourage educators, students, community organizations, individuals, families, churches, volunteers and government to join Food Roots in our efforts.
Our Board of Directors
Brian McMahon, Chair
Brian is retired, previously working as an IT Manager for a college in the Midwest; he is an active community volunteer, active in social justice and theatre and our Board extrovert.
Erica Rubin, Vice Chair
Erica is retired from The Non Profit Association of Oregon (formally known as TACS), where she worked as the Help Line Coordinator for over 20 years.
Crystal Moeller, Secretary
Crystal is a fourth generation Tillamook County resident and strongly connected with the Christian faith community (her husband is the pastor of the Hebo Christian Center). Her family has deep roots in the county's dairy industry.
Emily Fanjoy, Treasurer
Emily is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guatemala), where she and her husband worked developing community health infrastructure in a remote mountain region. Back from their years spent abroad, she and her husband are hard working food system entrepreneurs - beginning farmers in Tillamook County. She also works as a billigual advocate at the Tillamook County Women's Resource Center.
Shelly Bowe, Board Member
Shelly came to Tillamook County 31 years ago to farm. She has worked as a farm worker, farmer, restaurant owner and chef, nutrition and garden educator, and as a non-profit manager.
Lauren Karl, Board Member
Lauren has worked as a Sustainable Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer (Paraguay), facilitating school and community gardens, working with farmers to plan and increase production yields and improve soil health; as a farmers' market coordinator in urban Washington, D.C.; and was Food Roots Americorps VISTA volunteer from 2010- 2011.
Kevin Shluker, Board Member
It is Kevin Shluka's firm belief that providing good and nutritious food to folks won't solve all our problems. It will only reduce all our problems. Unfortunately, Kevin's one-man attempt to feed everyone within earshot has been undermined by his one-man attempt to eat everything in eyesight. Joining the Food Roots board affords him the opportunity to work on a larger scale according to his maxim: good neighbors make good food. So when not growing his own food or blowing glass from his studio in Hebo, Oregon you may find Kevin doing his best to contribute to the Food Roots mission.
Our Staff
Shelly Bowe, Executive Director
Randal Koch, Development Coordinator
Lauren Karl, Community Food & Microenterprise Coordinator
Emily Ritchie, Farm to School/FoodCorps Service Member
