We are so proud to be from Oregon. There are a plethora of great companies here that focus on being healthy and active, including some large, well-known international brands like Columbia Sportswear as well as small, family-owned artisan food and beverage companies like Minto Island Tea Company. If you're in need of some great gifts for the holidays, we have listed some of our Oregon favorites below.
HydroFlask: We all know the many benefits of drinking enough water (healthy skin, relieves fatigue, improves mood, etc.). Our favorite water bottle company hands down is Hydro Flask which started in the Central Oregon city of Bend. When they say their water bottles keep your drink cold, they mean it. I have left mine in a hot car in the summertime for several hours and the water inside is still cold. Seriously! So, if you're in the market for a good water bottle check out their website at www.hydroflask.com. They also do coffee, beer and food bottles/containers as well and they come in a wide range of colors.
Columbia Sportswear: Getting out in nature is one of the best things you can do for your body. The fresh air, the exercise, the peace and quiet... they all equal a more relaxed, healthier you. Columbia has some great products to help you get out and about, including insulated jackets, rainwear, and hiking boots. Their headquarters have been located in the Portland, Oregon area for almost 80 years.
Barre3: Barre3 opened their first studio in Portland in 2008 and now have a number of studios all over the U.S., as well as a fantastic online streaming program. If you have very busy weeks and can't find time to squeeze in a visit to the gym, you can stream a workout on your computer, phone or iPad at a time that is convenient for you: 5 am, 8 pm, even 2 in the morning if you really want to! The workouts are a mix of yoga, dance, and streching, and focus on building strength and flexibility. They offer modifications so you can do the workout within a range that is suitable for your body, energy and abilities.
Minto Island Tea Company: Located in Oregon's Willamette Valley, this company offers certified organic, handpicked, small-batch crafted Green, Oolong, and Black Tea. In fact, they are Oregon's first and only commercial scale Camellia sinensis tea garden. You can buy via their website, or at local farmers markets in the summertime.
Jacobsen Salt Co.: Jacobsen Salt Company harvests flake and kosher sea salts from the cold, pristine waters of Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast. They also offer single-origin honey through their sister brand Bee Local.
Freddy Guys Hazelnuts: Fun fact: Oregon produces 99.9% of the USA's hazelnuts. If you drive around the Willamette Valley, you will pass hundreds of hazelnut orchards on main and country roads alike. If you eat in the local restaurants, no doubt you'll get chopped hazelnuts on your green salad or a hazelnut crust on your salmon. Freddy Guys is a family-run hazelnut orchard in Oregon's mid-Willamette Valley. They specialize in fresh hazelnuts and hazelnut products (including hazelnut granola - yum!).
Woodblock Chocolate: Woodblock is a family run, bean-to-bar chocolate 'manufactory' in Portland. They are part of the 'American craft chocolate revolution.' There are so many health benefits of dark chocolate (consumed in moderation, of course), including fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese. It is a powerful antioxidant, supports lower blood pressure, supports good HDL cholesterol, and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive and there are many more companies here in Oregon that help support a healthy lifestyle. Do you have any favorites? We'd love to hear about them.
