Cascades Cannery launches to preserve surplus farm produce and fight food insecurity
KTVZ – News Team
(Update: Adding video)
Bend, OR. (KTVZ) — A new nonprofit, Cascades Cannery, has launched in Central Oregon with a mission to reduce farm food waste, support local growers, and increase food security for the community. By collecting surplus produce from area farms, Cascades Cannery transforms it into healthy, shelf-stable products such as jams, sauces, pickled vegetables, and soups.
The effort is designed to address two challenges at once: the large amount of nutritious food that goes unharvested or unsold each season, and the ongoing need for reliable, year-round access to local food among families in Central Oregon.
“Every year, thousands of pounds of fresh produce are lost simply because markets can’t absorb it all,” said James Radnich, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Cascades Cannery. “Our work ensures this abundance isn’t wasted, but instead preserved to nourish our neighbors and support the farmers who grow it.”
Cascades Cannery operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a dual approach:
Farm support: purchasing or gleaning surplus produce, giving growers a return on crops that might otherwise go unsold.
Community benefit: donating preserved foods to food banks and hunger-relief partners, while alsoselling products locally to generate income that sustains the mission.
The project is the first of its kind in Central Oregon and is currently building partnerships with farms, food access organizations, and local markets.
Community members who wish to get involved can learn more, donate, or sign up to volunteer at cascadescannery.org