Who we are…

We are Klamath Grown, a local food network where ranchers, farmers and makers connect with eaters, educators and community stakeholders here in the Klamath Basin. We’re proud of the incredible diversity of food we cultivate despite our region’s many environmental and economic challenges. Together, we’re moving the local food system to be what our community wants and deserves. We believe it’s possible to get local food to the people who need it and for farmers to receive a fair market value. In fact, both are necessary for a resilient and healthy community.

What we do…

Education & Promotion: Klamath Grown engages and educates all parts of the community to sustain and celebrate the incredible diversity of food grown right here in the Klamath Basin.

Support: Klamath Grown supports a diverse network of food producers and stakeholders to build capacity and facilitate collaboration, innovation and resiliency.

Improve Access: Klamath Grown fosters collaboration with local partners, creating alternative food pathways and increasing equitable access to fresh, locally produced food.

Klamath Grown is a food hub. What is that?

A food hub is a business of organization that actively manages the aggregations, distribution and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail and institutional demand.

Meet the Team

Katie Swanson

Co-Founder | Vice President

Katie owns and operates Sweet Union Farm, a small vegetable farm in Klamath Falls, and is co-founder of Klamath Grown. She loves working on her farm and feels fortunate to also be a part of the broader efforts that improve our local food system. When she’s not farming, she likes to preserve food, eat whatever amazing food her husband is cooking, cuddle with her cat and occasionally get off the farm for a hike or paddling around.

Alex Froom

President

Alex is a theologian, social worker, and nonprofit leader who works at the intersection of food, land, and community. He holds a Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work from Boston University. He and his wife, Malu, are creating Watershed Row—a vibrant pedestrian oriented block in downtown Klamath Falls that introduces people to local food and nature. Alex worked in community organizing, nonprofit development, youth development, and food systems in New England, the American Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. Alex deeply wants to help create a resilient local food web that is good for people, the land, and all our plant and animal relatives. He loves mountains and water. For leisure, when he isn’t in his garden with Malu and their son, he hikes, bikes, skis, and paddles.

Jennifer Spicher

Board Member

Jennifer currently works as a high school counselor at Klamath Union High School where she loves getting to support teens as they figure out who they are and what they want to do after they graduate. Growing up in a farming community in Iowa where gardening and preserving food were staples of her childhood summers, supporting local food is something that's long been important in her life. Jennifer also loves backpacking, biking with her husband, working in their ever-expanding garden, and playing Spelling Bee while drinking her morning coffee.

Kelsie Randall

Co-Founder

Kelsie co-owns and operates Box R Beef with her husband, farms grass and alfalfa hay, and is co-founder of Klamath Grown. Her formal education is in Civil Engineering, where she’s worked for over 10 years as a Project Manager, managing the design and construction for local and regional capital improvement projects. She loves raising (well, mostly playing with) all of her animals, and has a passion for helping to bring the community together around local food. When not working on projects around the ranch, she loves finding great food and just exploring the outside world with her daughter and pups.

Jonathan Hayes

Online Market Manager

Jonathan joined Klamath Grown in the fall of 2022 as our Market Manager. His position at Klamath Grown brings together his sales background and his passion for community building and local food. When he is not at Klamath Grown, Jonathan can be found adventuring with his wife and three kids, managing our local independent bookstore, dog sitting, or reading (a total of 130 books in 2022!). 

Delaney Ryde

Program Coordinator

Delaney is the newest member of the Klamath Grown team. She moved here from Ashland in September and will be supporting many different arms of Klamath Grown as the Program Coordinator. Her past work in school garden education and on small organic farms has shown her the power that local food has to positively impact communities. She has spent time on farms in Michigan, Alabama and Oregon, which has helped develop a well-rounded background for the different needs in multiple growing seasons and small communities. Growing up in Michigan she has a deep love for water and seeks it out whenever possible! Outside of work you can find her unplugging by practicing yoga, paddling, climbing, gardening, and seeking out delicious food. 

Sarah Akbari

RARE AmeriCorps Member | Local Food Resources Coordinator

Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from University of Oregon and recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science for Communications Professionals from Tufts University. She is passionate about using marketing and communication to promote local food and bring communities together. In her free time, she loves to cook and try new recipes, enjoy the outdoors, and be active; whether that is hiking, playing pickleball or dancing.

Alison Smith

Secretary

Alison is the Director of Programs & Strategy at the South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD) in Klamath Falls. She works on various programs at SCOEDD, including local food systems efforts and their intersection with local economic and rural development. She was also the RARE AmeriCorps member with SCOEDD for two years, working on economic recovery and resiliency initiatives. She’s honored to be on a board that prioritizes bringing people together around local food. In her free time, she can be found hiking, soaking up the sunshine and outdoors, trying new food, and catching up on her favorite TV shows and books.

 Join our Team!

Want to join in our important work? We would love to have you!