George Brown was born and raised on what was then the edge of the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.  Growing up, his father noted with disdain the ever approaching urban sprawl with the increased population, automobile traffic and development of highways and condos on some of the richest farmland in the world.  A few stints of living the big city life in Chicago made him long for a different life; more open space, more community, more care for and respect for the planet, more bike lanes.  George found all this and more after moving to Corvallis in the fall of 2004. 

Moving to Corvallis was a transforming experience for George: he sold his car and began biking exclusively, he found a welcoming community and rewarding work at First Alternative Co-op where he continues to work as a buyer in the bulk department and he finds much love and enjoyment in making the majority of his own food.  For the past five years, George has cultivated an ever growing passion for local foods.  His position as a bulk food buyer has given him the opportunity to work closely with local farmers, local food distributors and food consumers in his community that has energized  and given him hope for the future of humanity at a time when bad news seems to be ever circulating.  George finds the creation of Corvallis Local Foods to be the logical extension of his passion for helping support local farmers and food producers, increasing the consumption of local food and doing his part to help his community reclaim control over their food supply.

George can most often be seen biking around town with his son and side kick, little George.  Together, they make it a point of going to every farmers market where they spend much of their time in the vicinity of the Gathering Together Farm booth where George's partner Rebecka is the market manager and supplier of little George's favorite treat: those addicting potato doughnuts!