In the summer of 2009, local nutritionist Andrea Nakayama approached Brion about sourcing high-quality organic nuts and seeds for her nutrition clients, who needed access to nuts that weren’t rancid (like most of what was available in stores), and at better prices.

Brion teamed up with Kyler, and the first OCP orders were taken in September of 2009. Kyler left OCP at the end of 2010 to pursue seed farming in southern Oregon.

BIOS

Brion Oliver returned to Portland in 2007 after twenty years in San Francisco, Massachusetts, and New York. A member/owner and working volunteer at People’s Food Co-Op and former Asst. Deli Manager at New Seasons Market, Brion started The Raw Matrix in the summer of 2008 in an effort to bring raw and living foods to the farmers’ markets of Portland. That same year, Brion started the Living Raw in Portland Meetup Group to bring greater access to raw and living foods education, community-building, and community-centric living to Portland.

In 2008 and 2009, Brion was a farmers’ market vendor at the People’s Wednesday Farmers’ Market selling an array of all-organic raw vegan food items, which he also sold at the three food co-ops in town. Through The Raw Matrix, he has been selling the highest quality ‘superfoods’ at rock-bottom prices since December of 2008, a pre-cursor for OCP.

He blends his experience at grocery stores, as a food vendor, and as a wholesale distributor in the mission of OCP, bringing healthful food into families’ pantries.

A co-founder of OCP, Kyler Grandkoski lives and works at Seven Seeds Farm in Southern Oregon where he helps build functional and naturally inspired structures as well as making sure the herbs, flowers, veggies, and trees are well-tended. The botanical goods are harvested and delivered to members of the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative CSA or taken to the Ashland Farmer’s Market, or eaten by the farm’s animals, members and friends. The main focus on the farm is in saving seed for the Siskiyou Seeds bank in order that everyone has access to open-pollinated, organic heirloom seeds acclimated to thrive in the Northwest.

Andrea Nakayama is a Certified Nutrition Educator and Holistic Health Counselor. Through Replenish PDX she consults with adults, children, and entire families to foster the changes that stimulate rejuvenation, using food and supplemental therapies to alleviate longstanding health issues. Her mission is to nourish each body in a way that inspires self-healing. Her practice and continued studies focus on the link between food, mood, and energy — how what we eat, digest, and absorb are fundamental to our ability to flourish.

Through her website, Andrea offers a diversity of online courses, including seasonal cleanses, informational workshops, and programs.