About Organically Grown Co - Eugene Office

We use our business to champion organic agriculture and partner with farms of all sizes because organic is the answer to healthy carbon-absorbing soil, a healthy planet and healthy people. Top-notch facilities, logistics and marketing expertise for customers and growers big and small. Staple, seasonal and specialty produce from the Northwest and beyond - OGC has the best. We’re powered by smart, hardworking produce experts working for a better world. At OGC, we’ve always done business differently because we believe in something bigger: supporting organic farmers, caring for the planet and lifting up our community in lasting ways. In this year’s groovy Benefit Report, we’re sharing the impact we made through educational programs, giving back and our passion for working side-by-side with farmers and retailers to help them succeed. As part of our mission to grow the organic movement, OGC is educating and inspiring retailers and shoppers to choose organic for healthy people and planet. Find out why ORGANIC IS THE ANSWER and get involved. We’re thrilled and humbled to win this national award, presented to OGC by The Organic Center and Organic Voices/Only Organic. We’re honored to have been selected by our peers in the organic community.  Head over to the OGC Newsroom to learn more about the Organic Night Out awards and winners. Can fruits and veggies finally ditch the plastic net bag? Organically Grown Company (OGC) is piloting a sustainable breakthrough: plastic-free mesh bags made from beechwood fibers. Learn about this innovation in produce—recyclable, compostable bags made from cellulosic yarn derived from beechwood trees grown in FSC-certified forests. Scott’s 30-year OGC-iversary is this month! In 1995, Scott was working in the produce department at Eugene’s The Kiva Grocery and OGC co-founder Tom Lively was his Account Rep. When Tom let him know there was an opening at the Eugene warehouse, Scott applied. “I used to deliver to Scott K at the Kiva. He’s kept us laughing ever since he joined OGC 30 years ago!” says Brian Keogh, OGC Buyer. After starting in the warehouse, he was a driver for many years before settling into his current role as an Account Representative working with OGC customers in Eugene, Southern Oregon, the Oregon Coast and more. Harvest is in full swing and OGC is thrilled to be the Pacific Northwest's best source for all that zesty goodness. Check out our brand-new video series “Citrus Smarts” for all things citrus this season! Organically Grown Company had a big week at Expo West,the nation’s largest gathering of natural and organic brands, receiving two awards recognizing our work to reduce plastic in produce departments and in the landfill. Organically Grown Company's Ladybug Brand® Zero-Plastic Net Bag won a NEXTY Award in the Packaged Produce category! “We know that if it comes from OGC we, and you, can trust it.” – First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op “OGC Logistics does a superb job with delivery communication, on-time deliveries and managing potential transportation disruptions efficiently. Their commitment to getting the job done is paramount in everything they do!” “I believe in their mission to offer and source quality, sustainable, local, organic produce. A leader in the organic produce industry movement. Hiring stellar people.” “They give a damn... straight up. Seriously gives a damn about the industry, the planet, organics, farmers and their customers!” “OGC shows enormous commitment to the best agricultural practices, the best quality and the best customer experience!” “They focus on high-quality produce with a positive impact on the workers and the environment and connect us with the info/story behind the products and what's eating best in season.” “They demonstrate proven reliability in only carrying the best organic produce available. There is also something very special about OGC in that they choose to work with smaller farms. Makes me proud to work with OGC knowing

Our Story

With hands in the soil, Organically Grown Company was formed back in 1978 by a group of hippies, small-scale farmers, activists, food-lovers and dreamers who believed that organic food and farming was the answer to healthy people and planet. We are proud of our roots and boldly live by our purpose-first philosophy; that means we do right by our community and the earth, above all. We forge our own path, take care of our people, support organic growers and advocate for the organic movement, because we know that's what it takes to make real change. Proudly & Purposefully Trust Owned In late 2018, OGC embraced the Trust Ownership structure as a bold move to make sure we stay true to our mission—a shift that’s since inspired dozens of other mission driven businesses across the U.S. We established the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Perpetual Purpose Trust (SFAPPT). We transferred majority ownership to it, solidifying our commitment to quadruple-bottom-line leadership focused on people, planet, purpose and profit. This means we focus on positive economic, social and environmental impacts while maintaining our independence forever—never to be sold. OGC proudly stands as a purpose led and trust owned organization and Benefit Company dedicated to supporting organic agriculture while benefiting all our growers, customers, coworkers and communities. By balancing the profit needed to support our mission and purpose, we show that a business can thrive while making a real difference for people and the planet. Bottom line, we get to put everything we have into growing the organic movement. (L to R) Robert Despain, GM; Robert Rodale, Rodale Institute; Tom Lively, Sr. Account Rep; David Lively, VP Sales and Marketing; Tom Keller, Delivery, 1989 Rewind to Humble Beginnings In early 1978, our Eugene, Oregon based visionaries chose a name—Organically Grown Cooperative. It became a hub for sharing knowledge, learning together and pooling resources to strengthen the organic market while caring for the Earth and their communities. They incorporated as a nonprofit and got to work creating a fair and just marketplace. In 1980, with plans to reshape the cooperative for business growth, they brought on VISTA worker Lynn Crosby to coordinate operations for the next few years. During this time, the growers rewrote the bylaws to form an agricultural marketing co-op, bought essential equipment like a cooler and found property to build a dock. As the dream of a farmer-owned business took shape, they began coordinating crop production to make sure they could meet, but not overshoot demand. Grand opening of our first facility in Eugene, Oregon, July 1983. In 1983, the co-op opened its first dock in North Eugene and hired its very first employee, Joe Gabriel. Joe handled everything—from buying and selling produce to storage, deliveries and making sure payments were collected. The co-op started with six member farms and a handful of affiliates, mostly from the upper Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon. In that first year, sales hit $12,000. Taken at an OGC Tomato War in the early 90s at Fir Oak Farm. Along the way, OGC became an S-class corporation in 1999, and in 2008, launched an employee stock ownership program (ESOP). By 2016, the company moved into a larger Seattle location and opened a Spokane, Washington dock to better serve customers in Montana and beyond. In 2018, OGC became an Oregon Benefit Company and transitioned to perpetual purpose trust ownership. Today, OGC is proudly owned by the SFAPPT. ARE YOU AN OGC CUSTOMER, GROWER, INVESTOR, COMMUNITY ALLY OR COWORKER? If you fall into one of these groups, you have the opportunity to influence how our business is run by becoming a Qualified Stateholder. 1978Founded as a nonprofit cooperative Founded as a nonprofit cooperative 1982Evolved into grower marketing cooperative Evolved into grower marketing cooperative 1990Inaugural Tomato War, our annual company celebration Inaugural Tom

Meet the SFAPPT

Farm Owner · Since 1978