One on One ~ Waucoma Food Co-op
Fall 2007
by Tomi Owens
Stan Loop has the business skills of a third grader. In fact, that Waucoma Foods originally began in 1994 as the home school project of primary school aged Sylvan Shawe is a matter of great pride to him. According to Loop, young Shawe managed the co-op with the help of her mother, Karey, and was responsible for every aspect of the business except the heavy lifting.
When Loop and his wife, Kristin Reese, moved to the Columbia Gorge area in order to be closer to his parents, they rented a small dwelling on Rahane Ranch, 100 hundred acres of south facing land on Kingsley Road owned by the Shawes. Loop began working for Waucoma Foods and became more and more involved with the operation until, in 2001, he and Reese acquired the business officially. Over the years, Waucoma’s customer base has grown as has the range of health food products available from Azure Standard.
Tomi Owens: Could you tell us a bit about the benefits of a food co-op?
Stan Loop: The main benefits of a food co-op are the great prices and selection. Many people these days are looking for natural, organic or local products, but if you have to pay retail prices for small amounts, it can get very expensive really quickly. At Waucoma we have a huge selection of bulk and organic products as well as health and beauty items. We even sell diapers by the case and canning supplies. Normally ordering from Azure requires at least $400/order. Waucoma has no minimum order size.
Tomi Owens: Azure has really grown in the last few years. How have these changesaffected Waucoma Foods?
Stan Loop: Our supplier, Azure Standard, is a family-owned farm/business based in Dufur, Oregon. They have been growing and adapting steadily in the last few years. They have been an organic farm for a while and they are always taking customer requests for new products to be added to the catalog. We have noticed more and more organic products coming from the Northwest. They always try to buy from local sources and this is really good for all of us.
Tomi Owens: What are some of the most
significant changes you have seen in the Columbia Gorge over the years?
Stan Loop: The changes occurring in the gorge are a magnified reflection of the changes in America as a whole. There are some folks who are really well off and then there are the rest of us. The incredible influx of money when windsurfing took off has completely transformed Hood River and the surrounding communities.
Despite the good intentions of most of these folks there has been a lessening sense of community. This has led to problems in many areas. For example, housing prices have become and are still astronomical despite the “burst bubble” of the market now occurring. That just means there are more unaffordable properties sitting on the market and no one from here able to buy them. Traffic has become onerous. There are also a lot more traffic lights and parking meters. I understand why these changes have occurred but it is still the full-time residents that have to pay the bills. Fortunately, there are many new community groups trying to mend bridges and deal with quality of life issues.
Tomi Owens: Waucoma Foods accepts RiverHOURS. Why is that important to you?
Stan Loop: It is important to me that Waucoma accept RiverHOURS because building the local economy is even more important now than ever before.
We in this country are speeding towards an economic cliff and when we go it will be a long drop. Money leaves the local economy in many ways and makes all of us poorer. By supporting a local currency we can help keep that value here, which makes us all richer. People are losing their homes because of the mortgage meltdown and it’s harder and harder to find a loan because banks are going under at an alarming rate.
Even if that were not the case, most mortgage money goes into pockets of people far from the Gorge. The same is true for Mal-Wart (sic) and many other businesses. Finding a good local source for all of life’s needs should be everyone’s #1 priority and RiverHOURS help make that connection.
Tomi Owens: How/where do you spend your RiverHOURS?
Stan Loop: We spend our RiverHOURS in many different situations. Our favorite is to give them as tips. The way we do it is: Tip as usual, then ask if they use RiverHOURS, if so great, they get some! If not we give them the RiverHOURS, a Directory and a brief explanation of the process. It’s a good way to increase awareness and circulation, both of which help us all.
We also buy building materials at the Gorge Rebuild-it Center (where I will be working) and often when shopping at Mother’s Marketplace. Both of these businesses have been at the forefront, carrying large balances of RiverHOURS since the beginning. This kind of support needs to be rewarded by all of us. Spend your federal dollars there as well and ask for your change in RiverHOURS. That investment in the Gorge makes us stronger and binds us
as a community.
Fall 2007
by Tomi Owens
Stan Loop has the business skills of a third grader. In fact, that Waucoma Foods originally began in 1994 as the home school project of primary school aged Sylvan Shawe is a matter of great pride to him. According to Loop, young Shawe managed the co-op with the help of her mother, Karey, and was responsible for every aspect of the business except the heavy lifting.
When Loop and his wife, Kristin Reese, moved to the Columbia Gorge area in order to be closer to his parents, they rented a small dwelling on Rahane Ranch, 100 hundred acres of south facing land on Kingsley Road owned by the Shawes. Loop began working for Waucoma Foods and became more and more involved with the operation until, in 2001, he and Reese acquired the business officially. Over the years, Waucoma’s customer base has grown as has the range of health food products available from Azure Standard.
Tomi Owens: Could you tell us a bit about the benefits of a food co-op?
Stan Loop: The main benefits of a food co-op are the great prices and selection. Many people these days are looking for natural, organic or local products, but if you have to pay retail prices for small amounts, it can get very expensive really quickly. At Waucoma we have a huge selection of bulk and organic products as well as health and beauty items. We even sell diapers by the case and canning supplies. Normally ordering from Azure requires at least $400/order. Waucoma has no minimum order size.
Tomi Owens: Azure has really grown in the last few years. How have these changesaffected Waucoma Foods?
Stan Loop: Our supplier, Azure Standard, is a family-owned farm/business based in Dufur, Oregon. They have been growing and adapting steadily in the last few years. They have been an organic farm for a while and they are always taking customer requests for new products to be added to the catalog. We have noticed more and more organic products coming from the Northwest. They always try to buy from local sources and this is really good for all of us.
Tomi Owens: What are some of the most
significant changes you have seen in the Columbia Gorge over the years?
Stan Loop: The changes occurring in the gorge are a magnified reflection of the changes in America as a whole. There are some folks who are really well off and then there are the rest of us. The incredible influx of money when windsurfing took off has completely transformed Hood River and the surrounding communities.
Despite the good intentions of most of these folks there has been a lessening sense of community. This has led to problems in many areas. For example, housing prices have become and are still astronomical despite the “burst bubble” of the market now occurring. That just means there are more unaffordable properties sitting on the market and no one from here able to buy them. Traffic has become onerous. There are also a lot more traffic lights and parking meters. I understand why these changes have occurred but it is still the full-time residents that have to pay the bills. Fortunately, there are many new community groups trying to mend bridges and deal with quality of life issues.
Tomi Owens: Waucoma Foods accepts RiverHOURS. Why is that important to you?
Stan Loop: It is important to me that Waucoma accept RiverHOURS because building the local economy is even more important now than ever before.
We in this country are speeding towards an economic cliff and when we go it will be a long drop. Money leaves the local economy in many ways and makes all of us poorer. By supporting a local currency we can help keep that value here, which makes us all richer. People are losing their homes because of the mortgage meltdown and it’s harder and harder to find a loan because banks are going under at an alarming rate.
Even if that were not the case, most mortgage money goes into pockets of people far from the Gorge. The same is true for Mal-Wart (sic) and many other businesses. Finding a good local source for all of life’s needs should be everyone’s #1 priority and RiverHOURS help make that connection.
Tomi Owens: How/where do you spend your RiverHOURS?
Stan Loop: We spend our RiverHOURS in many different situations. Our favorite is to give them as tips. The way we do it is: Tip as usual, then ask if they use RiverHOURS, if so great, they get some! If not we give them the RiverHOURS, a Directory and a brief explanation of the process. It’s a good way to increase awareness and circulation, both of which help us all.
We also buy building materials at the Gorge Rebuild-it Center (where I will be working) and often when shopping at Mother’s Marketplace. Both of these businesses have been at the forefront, carrying large balances of RiverHOURS since the beginning. This kind of support needs to be rewarded by all of us. Spend your federal dollars there as well and ask for your change in RiverHOURS. That investment in the Gorge makes us stronger and binds us
as a community.