This week, we had a debate about mason jars.
The ones we use for our chèvre and feta—our most popular cheeses. The same jars we use for soap infusions and other ingredients. We debated if we should purchase another pallet and find storage space for them – their price had already risen 50% and we did not want to be caught off guard by a shortage.
Everyone loves the idea of a small farm making good things. (Our motto is: We farm and make good things in Gales Creek, Oregon.) The image is wholesome: happy animals, fresh air, a more meaningful way of life. Which is all true…
And the reality of running a small dairy and farm-to-skin business right now? It’s hard. Conversations with other farmers and makers have affirmed that this time poses exceptional challenges and we are concerned that our community might lose some of our beloved businesses.
Costs are climbing—jars, labels, shipping, everything. And while we understand that everyone’s budgeting tighter these days, it stings when people skip the handmade soap or local cheese in favor of cheaper options from big-box stores or Amazon.
Because here at Fraga, we’re a very small team. While Steve and Michael run the cheese room, Hannah and Lise aren’t just the farmers and makers—we’re also the shipping department, customer service, social media team and cleanup crew.
Here’s what we’ve learned over the past few years: Local resilience matters.
Remember during the early pandemic when people could drive out to the farm or swing by the market instead of facing empty supermarket shelves? That was resilience in action. Shorter supply chains. Stronger relationships. Community that shows up. We’re proud to continue those efforts when we purchase our balm ingredients from local companies like Shay & Co and our fabulous balm tubes are made from certified Oregon forest products.
Resilience doesn’t build itself. It takes commitment. It takes choosing “we” over “me.” It means asking: What can I do now to support the kind of community I want to live in later?
And just to be clear—shopping online isn’t the problem.
It’s who you’re buying from that matters.
When you spend $1 on Amazon, less than six cents stays in your local economy.
When you shop directly from a small business—online or in person—up to 68 cents stays local.
We’ve noticed something great: many of our online orders go to nearby ZIP codes. That’s local shopping, too. Clicking "buy now" doesn’t have to mean buying from a stranger in a warehouse five states away.
But here’s the rub: folks equate shopping online with shopping from platforms like Amazon who take 15–20% off the top—plus fees for listing, processing, and who knows what else. For us, that’s a big bite. When you order directly from our site, your dollars go where you meant them to. We are committed to making an excellent product with truly high-quality ingredients.
We want you to shop with us because our products are better. Our chevre isn’t made from imported curds and our soaps are made with all certified organic food grade oils along with our goat’s milk. Every balm, bar, and jar we sell has a real person (and goat!) behind it. Someone who cares about what goes into it—and what it leaves behind.
We’re glad you found us and we’re proud to be making farm to skin products for you. Most customers choose to purchase a product based on a friend’s recommendation or because they read real people reviews. You can help support the resilience of small local makers even without spending money.
What You Can Do to Help Build a More Resilient Community:
• Leave reviews- the algorithms that be heavily favor products that have been reviewed by real people.
• Recommend it to a friend- if you find a product you love, think of a friend that might like it too and let them know about it. We’d be happy to send you some samples to pass along.
• Make a “local first” list. Pick a few essentials—like soap, cheese, gifts, or skincare—and commit to buying them from a small, local source.
• Budget for it. Budget $10 or $20 a month to spend on a new local product. Consider it your local discovery budget. It takes work to find your faves.
• Shop online—just do it directly. Skip the big platforms and buy from makers you trust.
• Get to know us. Reply to our emails. Read the blog. Follow us on Instagram. Stop by the farm if you can. We want to be more than just your soap or cheese people—we want to be part of your community.
Let’s build something better—together.