Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and the Oregon Sustainability Board presented Northwoods Nursery and One Green World with a 2011 Oregon Sustainability Award yesterday. The wholesale and retail grower won in the small business category. It was one of just two businesses, and six organizations overall, to be so honored. The nursery, founded and owned by Jim Gilbert, is located on 66 acres near Molalla, Ore. and is a longtime OAN member. “We are working hard to rebuild Oregon’s economy so that it is truly sustainable,” Gov. Kitzhaber said. “These pioneering companies and organizations are strong examples of how we can achieve this.”

Northwoods Nursery is the wholesale arm of the business. One Green World has a retail store, plus a catalog and a retail website. The nursery is particularly well known for its many unique fruiting plants and edibles, which enable customers to sustainably feed themselves. Further, the company has led the way in sustainable agricultural practices, and was the first Oregon nursery to earn a Salmon-Safe designation. In 2009, the company earned the Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Award from City of Portland. Northwoods also participates in the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project. For more information on Northwoods and One Green World, log on to www.onegreenworld.com.