Gerry Shapiro

Gerry Shapiro, activist and businessman, founder in 1994 of Locally based Merry Hempsters, launched The Merry Hempsters at the Southern Oregon Barter Fair. Inspired out of forest activism, Gerry says "It became easier to start a business to educate people in the uses of hemp". The Merry Hempsters, one of the first to use organic herbs and plant oils in the industry, has made hemp based body care products available nation wide.

Persistently researching for only the greenest of possibilities in source materials, packaging, and manufacturing, Gerry is also responsible for aiding the early stages of other local natural, organic, and hemp related businesses; Sacred Earth Botanicals, Tradewinds Natural Products and Green Goddess Organic Chocolates to name a few. Gerry is dedicated to making Organic, Hemp and Sustainability mainstream and to furthering Local business rooted within the community.