Adventist Health Portland Renews Community Produce Stand

Adventist Health Portland is helping connect neighbors with fresh, local produce this summer by bringing its weekly community produce stand back to its southeast Portland hospital campus for a third year.

Hosted in partnership with Outgrowing Hunger, the produce stand features immigrant and refugee-grown fruits and vegetables harvested from local gardens. The stand is part of Adventist Health Portland’s ongoing commitment to improving access to nutritious food, a key focus identified through the organization’s Community Health Needs Assessment.

“Expanding access to fresh, healthy food is one of the most meaningful ways we can support the health and well-being of our community,” says Terry Johnsson, mission integration executive at Adventist Health Portland. “What started as a longtime dream has now become a summer tradition on our campus. We’re grateful to bring this produce stand back for a third year and continue supporting both our neighbors and local immigrant farmers.”

The produce sold at the stand comes from Outgrowing Hunger’s retail outlet in East County, which features produce largely farmed by local immigrants and refugees. Much of the food is picked the same morning it is sold, and every dollar spent at the stand goes directly back to the farmers.

The produce stand builds on Adventist Health Portland’s broader work to address food insecurity and bring fresh produce closer to home. The area surrounding the hospital is considered a food desert, with more limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. In 2019, Adventist Health Portland launched a community garden next to the hospital in partnership with Outgrowing Hunger. Many of the garden’s farmers are recent immigrants and refugees, who rely on the space to grow food for their families and community.

The community produce stand will be open each Tuesday from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., July 7 – September 29, outside Adventist Health Portland’s main hospital entrance at 10123 SE Market Street, Portland, OR 97216.

Community members, patients, visitors, and employees are invited to stop by and support local farmers while bringing home fresh, seasonal produce.