Today, while many celebrate Giving Tuesday, we’re taking a moment to honor someone whose generosity quietly sustained Provender for decades. Gavin McComas, owner and general manager of Sundance Natural Foods was a remarkable steward of our work. His monthly support quite literally kept our doors open, and his belief in Provender’s mission helped carry this community forward. His passing last week leaves a deep ache for so many, but his impact is everlasting. Because Provender is a 501(c)6, Giving Tuesday looks a little different for us. Instead of matching campaigns, we celebrate the extraordinary individuals who embody generosity in its truest form—people like Gavin. If Provender has touched your business, your work, or your heart, we invite you to help carry on the stewardship Gavin modeled so beautifully. Contributing in his honor ensures the community he cared about continues to thrive. Thank you for helping us hold his legacy 🤲 https://lnkd.in/gjj3STGW
PROVENDER ALLIANCE
Food and Beverage Services
Sandy, Oregon 468 followers
NOURISH • EDUCATE • INSPIRE
About us
For almost 50 years, Provender Alliance has served as a vital gathering place for values-driven businesses and individuals in the natural foods and products movement. We are a nonprofit community of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, farmers, and activists who believe that business can—and should—be a force for good. We offer connection, education, and inspiration to those committed to sustainability, social justice, and ethical business practices. Through our annual educational conference, stewardship program, and year-round engagement, we help cultivate the next generation of leaders in the natural products trade. Provender is more than a network—it’s a movement. A place where mission-aligned companies come together to collaborate, learn, and grow with purpose. Our members include: 🌱 Independent natural food retailers 🌱 Organic and regenerative producers 🌱 Ethical brands and co-ops 🌱 Grassroots changemakers Whether you’ve been in the industry for decades or are just finding your place in it, Provender welcomes you. Join us in shaping a just, healthy, and sustainable future. 🔗 Learn more: provender.org
- Website
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http://www.provender.org
External link for PROVENDER ALLIANCE
- Industry
- Food and Beverage Services
- Company size
- 1 employee
- Headquarters
- Sandy, Oregon
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1976
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
PO Box 279
Sandy, Oregon 97055, US
Employees at PROVENDER ALLIANCE
Updates
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If you’ve ever wondered what makes Provender so unique, this piece says it beautifully. Give it a read — it’s the kind of insight that reminds us why this community and continuous innovation in our trade matters so much. Thank you, Diana Fryc and everyone at Voodoo Brands for this inspiring recap - wonderfully showcasing the heart, energy & humanity of our annual gathering. We are so grateful you are a part of our alliance 🌱💚
Voodoo Brands latest Substack is about the PROVENDER ALLIANCE annual conference. This is one from the heart as well as the mind, which feels right as we head into the holiday season. Link below. https://lnkd.in/g65YhRHJ Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
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We’re still buzzing from our sold out evening with Paul Stamets! It was amazing to see our community come together in support of Provender Alliance and the independent businesses that make our region’s natural food & products industry so special. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this fundraiser such a success. We are grateful for each and every one of you 🙏 A reminder as we head into the holiday season to support your favorite local & independent organizations so they can keep our vital communities thriving 🧡
An evening with Paul Stamets at the McDonald Theater 🍄 This sold out event gave Eugene the opportunity to take a dive into mycology while supporting the great work of the PROVENDER ALLIANCE - so of course we had to be there. Paul has dedicated so much of his life to researching the vast benefits and uses for mycelium and fungi, and his work is no where near finished. From medical trials, to foraging tips and tricks - we all have something to learn from Paul and are happy to listen together. One act of kindness at a time.
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Fungi + community + good vibes = magic 🍄💫 We can’t wait to welcome Paul Stamets to Eugene this Tuesday in support of Provender. Here’s to growing a thriving, connected, and inspired natural foods community! 🌿 🎟️ Tickets still available at mcdonaldtheatre.com but selling out fast!
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What a wonderful opportunity with one of Provender's longstanding member organizations!
We're Hiring! Director of Sales & Marketing Can work be fun? We think so! Creating a positive, safe, and healthy work environment is central to our mission and values. Hummingbird Wholesale’s Director of Sales & Marketing serves as a collaborative member of the Leadership Team in creating and successfully implementing long and short-term strategic plans and budgets. For more information: https://lnkd.in/gq6RkqwY
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Your people are your greatest asset - and keeping them inspired is the key to a thriving organization. Join us for our pre-Provender Conference Intensive next Wednesday in Hood River to explore creative ways to strengthen connection, boost morale, and keep your dream team together! 🙌 Join longtime Provender supporter and educator Mark Mulcahy & Michael McCary from member retailer, BriarPatch Food Co-op where they’ll show you valuable tips and useful tools to get your organization OFF the turnover treadmill 🔄 ⭐️Bonus: You get to hang out with Mike and Mark! ⭐️ Visit Provender.org to get registered today!
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Provender Alliance Presents 📣 An Evening with Paul Stamets: How a Mycologist Helps Community Thrive 🍄🍄🍄 On November 11th, longtime friend of Provender, Paul Stamets, will take the stage at McDonald Theatre in Eugene, OR for a live talk exploring the intersections of mushrooms, human consciousness, and planetary health. His presentation, “How a Mycologist Helps Community Thrive,” will cover the history and future of psilocybin research, microdosing, and the broader implications of fungi for human and ecological wellness. Thanks to the amazing generosity of The Springfield Creamery / Nancy's Probiotic Foods , Fungi Perfecti LLC and the entire Kesey Family, all proceeds go directly to support our Alliance 🌱 🎟️Tickets are ON SALE now! 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/exq2Frhm
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Our conference countdown is on! ⏳ If you represent a brand, product or idea you’d like to spread the word about, you won’t want to miss our ‘Meet Your Makers’ tabletop tradeshow on the evening of Thursday, October 23rd. This intimate gathering brings high-impact networking, without the overwhelm of larger shows. Take time, have a real conversation about your offerings with engaged buyers and consumers alike. Space is limited and selling out quickly so make your plan to join us in the always-stunning Hood River, Oregon! Reserve your table today 🔆 at https://lnkd.in/gMbzSybM
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Before the Provender conference officially kicks off, join us for ‘Retaining Your Staff: Fresh Ideas for Getting Off the Turnover Treadmill’ - a focused intensive designed to help you break the hire-train-repeat cycle 🔁 Spend the morning with Mark Mulcahy and Michael McCary as they share practical tools for improving retention, from fresh scheduling ideas and “stay interviews” to simple ways to track and strengthen staff engagement. Expect small-group work, real-world stories, and hands-on activities you can put to use right away! Learn with us in the morning 💡then hop on the bus 🚌 for our afternoon field trip to tour some wonderful Hood River companies! Space is limited. Don’t sleep on this one. Register at Provender.org 🌱
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Worldwide we consume about 173 million bags of coffee a year - that’s over 10 million tons of coffee. Coffee tastes like a little piece of heaven - but there’s often a dark side to the story... Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world—and one of the most troubled. From deforestation and water pollution to labor exploitation and price volatility, the industry’s global footprint is enormous: - Environmental strain: Coffee cultivation drives deforestation and heavy water use, while chemical inputs damage soil and biodiversity. - Human impact: Many farmers still earn far below a living income, and supply chains are often opaque, hiding unsafe and unfair labor practices. - Rising prices: The high retail prices we see today rarely reach growers; fair-trade models remain critical to ensuring farmers are paid equitably. Celebrating 35 years sourcing organic and fair trade coffee from small-scale producers in Chiapas, Mexico, Café Mam / Royal Blue Organics is opening up the conversation. You’ll hear what the producers themselves want us to know about the strength of the cooperatives, mitigating climate change, skyrocketing coffee prices, and the future of ethical coffee in the mountains of Chiapas. Grab a cup of your favorite afternoon java and bring your questions and experiences to share with our community as we gather from 1:00 - 2:00pm PST tomorrow for a FREE Community Conversation into the heart of the ethical coffee question. https://lnkd.in/eMd3egqY
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