Tri-Cities gluten-free company has pop-up after coronavirus leaves grocery shelves bare

Store shelves being out of staples has been a common sight during the coronavirus pandemic — making it doubly hard for people with celiac disease to find the basic food products they need.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, GF Blends, a dedicated gluten-free processing facility held a pop-up sale Friday at its warehouse in the Horn Rapids Industrial Park, 2151 Henderson Loop, Richland.

“Finding gluten-free flour in the store has been challenging,” said Anna Empey, owner of Business Inspired Solutions in Richland who does marketing for GF Blends.

GF Blends is owned by Empey’s uncle and aunt, Glen and Julie Call. She says they know first-hand how difficult it is to eat gluten-free, let alone with grocery store supplies running low.

Julie Call has celiac disease, as does Empey and about 30 other members of their extended family.

Immune disease

Celiac disease is an immune disease that prevents people from being able to digest gluten without it damaging their small intestine.

Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley. The only treatment is a gluten-free diet.

GF Blends, in addition to being processing and labeling gluten-free products in bulk, has its own products called Eating Gluten Free that are sold at Highlands Organic Market stores in Kennewick and Richland.

“We’ve had quite a few people say they can’t find things in bulk,” Empey said. “In general it has been harder because more people need food. We are all used to eating out and no one is eating out — so it has been hit or miss in trying to find the things (people with celiac) need.”

While the company has held many pop-up sales in Utah, where their primary customer base is, this was the first in Tri-Cities.

“We want people who are gluten-free who are struggling to find what they need in grocery stores to have access to quality mixes,” she said.

In addition to bread, cake, brownie, pancake and flour mixes, the company also sells canned bulk pantry staples that can be in long-term storage such as rice, dried beans, oats, salt, sugar and more. Sizes range from 1 pound up to 50 pounds on select items.

“(The owners) really care about making sure everything they do stays 100 percent gluten-free. They test every run of every product for gluten,” Empey said.

This guarantees that all products, whether flour or beans, are not cross-contaminated with gluten.

“We love to help people who have celiac. We love to support them in that process,” Empey said

Products are also available for purchase with shipping available at gfblends.com/shop.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 4:15 PM.