In the Rainshadow: Incubating a New Northwest Food Brand
Every idea starts with a spark.
For me, it was lemon—bright, zesty, real. Inspired by the simplicity of a Lara Bar, I wanted to craft something more grounded in place. Something uniquely Oregon. That single flavor launched a journey into wholefood snack bars and, eventually, into a fermentation-free, thermal process that brought black garlic into our lineup.
From those two distinct paths, a bigger idea began to form: a need to unite under one name.
Enter: Rainshadow Provisions.
What’s in a Name?
A rainshadow is the dry region on the leeward side of a mountain—on our side of the Cascades, it’s a space of quiet resilience and hidden bounty. That’s what we want Rainshadow Provisions to stand for: nourishing, unfussy, and deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest.
Our Origin Stories
Columbia Bars were born from a from the realization that most "snack bars" really belong in the candy aisle and there was a need for clean energy snacks: made with raw cashews, Deglet Noor dates, and thoughtfully sourced fruits, nuts, and spices—many grown or processed right here in Oregon. We dehydrate our citrus in-house and align our flavors with seasonal shifts.
Black Garlic came next—not the inconsistent, fermented kind, but the kind made in a controlled thermal process that transforms garlic over a period of 2 - 3 weeks. The result? A smooth, umami-rich ingredient that’s safe, stable, and delicious. It began as an experiment but quickly became a signature.
Two very different products. One unified philosophy:
Simplicity. Traceability. Bold flavor.
Why We Needed an Umbrella
As Columbia Bar, LLC grew, so did the vision. Should these two products stay separate—or find a home together?
Rainshadow Provisions lets them speak in their own voices while being part of something shared.
Our guiding ethos:
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Ingredients with a story
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Local agriculture honored
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Minimal but meaningful processing
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Honest food storytelling
Our Shopify store has been a key tool in reaching people who care about those values. But this is just the beginning.
Looking Ahead: Retail and B2B
We're growing our wholesale presence, partnering with specialty retailers, and scouting farmers markets that align with our mission.
And we’re especially excited about the B2B potential of our black garlic. Whether it’s whole bulbs, peeled cloves, or soon-to-launch shelf-stable powder—chefs and food producers are hungry for distinctive, clean-label ingredients.
Two Voices, One Vision
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Snack Bars: Vibrant, energetic, real food in motion. For hikers, workers, parents, and travelers.
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Black Garlic: Quiet, patient, complex. For chefs, makers, and culinary adventurers.
Rainshadow Provisions is the bridge between the two. It holds space for contrast: loud and soft, fast and slow, bold and subtle, human to human.
Brand Identity
Our visual story is anchored by the Megler Bridge, spanning the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. In our logo, you’ll see:
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The bridge’s graceful arch
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Reflections of Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier
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Gentle river ripples beneath it all
We use Northwest Bold type for clarity and character, and our color palette pulls from the land:
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Forest green
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Charcoal gray
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Muted gold
What’s Next?
We’re in growth mode:
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Finalizing new packaging
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Refining our DTC and wholesale messaging
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Identifying better-aligned farmers markets
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And developing new flavors—like a savory snack bar featuring Pacific dulse, toasted sesame, and Yuzu Kosho.
We believe food should tell the truth.
About where it comes from. What it’s made of. And how it makes you feel.
Rainshadow Provisions is our way of making that truth tangible.
Still zesty. Still grounded. And now, with a name to grow into.