Four Roots
Nourishing Communities through Sustainability, Equity, and Locality.
Our Mission
At Four Roots, our mission is to redefine our community's relationship with
food. We're deeply committed to sustainability, bolstering local farmers,
and addressing food insecurity. Through our four core programs, we
strive to make a lasting impact in Eastern Washington and beyond.
What are the Four Roots?
Education
Our food boxes provide farmers and food producers with sales channels and market opportunities, while we also distribute food boxes to those in need through grant and contract programs. In 2025, we're launching a farmer-centered public market in collaboration with the Spokane Conservation District, with plans to expand to more markets soon.
Agriculture
Our farm-to-table approach supports local farmers within a 400-mile radius of Spokane, offering them a direct-to-consumer sales and marketing channel for their goods.
In addition, we provide wrap-around business support to new and beginning farmers, ranchers, and producers, helping grow farmers for this and future generations. Adapting these practices for ourselves, we have recently begun a micro-farm operation in the Colbert area. We are proudly learning and bolstering our individual skillsets while passing this knowledge directly to the next generation.
Connection
At Four Roots, our commitment to agriculture encompasses a holistic approach, rooted in education and community engagement. We believe in providing diverse educational opportunities for individuals seeking to embark on their journey as farmers or amateur gardeners. As an integral part of our mission, we aspire to cultivate a welcoming and secure environment for partners, employees, and visitors alike. Our objectives are clear: to promote food system education, offer support to local farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs in enhancing their agricultural enterprises and practices, facilitate exciting sales channel and farmer's market-related opportunities, and provide education to make farming accessible to the average family. With these goals in mind, we aim to foster a thriving, sustainable agricultural ecosystem that benefits both our community and the environment.
Community
We collaborate with Eastern Washington organizations to enhance our region's food system. Our support for nonprofits, community events, employment, training, and housing for individuals in recovery creates pathways to brighter futures. Join us in our mission to reshape food systems, empower local farmers, and cultivate resilient communities. Together, we can forge a sustainable and nourishing future for Eastern Washington.
Our Vision
We envision a vibrant, interconnected future for Eastern Washington, one that cherishes and nurtures a sustainable, equitable, and thriving food system. Our belief is that a robust food system:
Cherishes and sustains the environment, respecting its resources during the cultivation and harvest of food, ensuring that our consumption of nutrient-rich, whole foods contributes positively to our planet's abundance.
Provides an equal opportunity for all to engage in the food system as consumers, producers, and supporters, fostering healthy, equitable, and culturally relevant participation.
Links Eastern Washington's communities and facilitates the regional movement of locally produced food between farmers and consumers, including those in rural, outlying, and tribal areas.
Generates economic opportunities across the food system, enabling family farmers to thrive while nourishing their communities. Funds are reinvested locally, fueling neighborhood rejuvenation.
Our commitment to realizing this vision is unwavering, as we ensure that our team members, partners, and farmers/producers uphold Four Roots' values in their daily practices:
Dignity: We treat those we serve, partner with, and work alongside with nobility, honor, and respect, reflecting these values in our actions, words, and intentions.
Equity: We recognize and address the varying starting points of individuals on their journey toward goals, striving to remove barriers to equal opportunity through targeted outreach, services, and programs that serve underserved communities, producers, and individuals.
Inclusion: We actively integrate all people and groups into our activities, programs, and planning processes, especially those facing disadvantage, discrimination, or living with disabilities.
Locality: We prioritize sourcing food and goods from Eastern Washington farmers and producers, reducing food miles and keeping funds within our region.
Stewardship: We hold ourselves accountable for responsible actions, mindful of our impact on the environment, communities, and those who support our programs. We employ food loss and waste reduction practices and make direct purchases from local producers, enhancing product quality while reducing waste.
Our Values
Meet Four Roots
At Four Roots, we believe in more than farming. We believe in cultivating careers that make a difference to the individual and our community. Join us in our mission to transform the way our community interacts with food, promote sustainability, and support local farmers. Here, you'll find not just a job but a rewarding journey toward a greener, more nourishing future.
