Sustainable, organic farming of native, non-GMO produce
Owen Native Foods provides regional markets with specialty produce that is organically grown and non-GMO. Our specialty is our native super fruit, the pawpaw. We harvest our produce at its peak ripeness and bring our produce to the consumer within 24 hours so that peak flavor and nutrition are achieved. Our growing line of native species reinvigorates the palate and provides food lovers, organic grocery stores, brewers, and fine chefs with diverse and exciting super fruits and vegetables.
Our vision is to build a coalition of local, small scale, organic farms that sustainably cultivate native, wild, and edible super foods for regional sale and consumption. ONF uses best agri-business practices employed by the USAID in developing countries around the world to maximize economic returns to areas where other crops and industry have proven unprofitable. This allows both individuals and small farms to earn competitive wages even in economically depressed regions. Our business is on the cutting edge of a fast growing agricultural market revolution and continues to redefine what is viable. We are identifying, cultivating, marketing, growing, and delivering to market highly nutritious, organic, non-GMO, native species of produce. This form of agriculture seeks to maximize the inherit qualities of native species, which require little to no chemicals and minimal manipulation of the native landscape to naturally achieve profitable yields of boutique and exotic fruits and vegetables.
The Owen Native Foods business
Our business seeks to identify marketable native crops of North America and develop these crops into sustainable produce lines. At the most basic level, we produce or purchase select native species, sustainably grown, from local farms and supply them to a consumer market. Our clients range from individuals seeking highly nutritious foods with outstanding new flavors to high-end restaurants and grocery chains selling organic, non-GMO foods. We are proud to support local Virginia and West Virginia farmers and their families.
The business was begun by Jonathan Owen in 2012 after he combined his avid interest in wild and edible foods with his own adaptable, low-input agri-business model. Jonathan was motivated to find better foods for his family and in doing so, saw a way to help the small American farm. As such, he sought to find ways to re-energize local rural economies by finding easily grown, specialty, super foods that were profitable for small farmers. This led Jonathan to experimenting with native crop production in the Shenandoah Valley and mountains of West Virginia. After rediscovering just how many plants were not only easy to grow and readily available, but extremely healthy and tasty, Jonathan began to market a few varieties to local markets. The result has been a rapidly growing demand for native foods. Today, ONF has established itself as the brand leader in pawpaw production and sales.