Fernweh Food

Fernweh Food Company is a Portland, Oregon-based producer of plant-based, gluten-free, and dehydrated meals for outdoor enthusiasts. The company was founded in 2019 by Ashley Lance, who has a background in culinary arts. The inspiration for the company came after Lance was laid off from her job at a brewery, viewing it as an opportunity to turn her side-hustle of creating dehydrated meals for her own bikepacking and backpacking trips into a full-fledged business. Lance was motivated by the lack of healthy, preservative-free options in the adventure food market and a desire to combat the excessive single-use plastic waste she observed in the outdoors.

The company's business model centers on direct-to-consumer sales through its website and pop-up markets, offering both individual meals and bulk purchasing options to reduce packaging. A key differentiator is its commitment to sustainability, utilizing 100% compostable cook-in-the-bag packaging and offering reusable cotton-muslin bag alternatives. Fernweh Food Co. emphasizes locally and seasonally sourced ingredients, many from small farms in the Portland area, which are used to create its range of meals and snacks. Products like the Mushroom Pot Pie, Southwest Stew, and Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl are developed by cooking all ingredients together before dehydration to enhance flavor, a notable practice in the industry.

Initially bootstrapped by Lance, the company received a $10,000 grant from Ladies Who Launch in June 2023. The business serves a customer base of outdoor adventurers, such as hikers and bikepackers, who value sustainability and nutritious food. The name "Fernweh" is a German word meaning a desire for faraway places, which Lance felt represented the brand's spirit of adventure.

Keywords: dehydrated meals, adventure food, plant-based, gluten-free, sustainable packaging, outdoor nutrition, backpacking food, bikepacking meals, low-waste, compostable packaging, locally sourced ingredients, vegan camping food, women-owned business, Portland, Ashley Lance, eco-friendly food, trail food, seasonal produce, direct-to-consumer, outdoor provisions