March Business of the Month: Jo’s Dough

Jo’s Dough was voted March’s Business of the Month by the Groovin in the Grove community.

This Cottage Grove cottage bakery has quickly built one of the most loyal followings in town through small batch sourdough baking, handmade treats, and the kind of food that instantly reminds people of home.

If you have spent time at the South Valley Farmers Market, there is a good chance you have already encountered Jo’s Dough. Many customers say they recognize the booth before they even see it simply by following the smell of fresh baked bread.

Behind the business is local baker Emily Merrigan, whose passion for family recipes, simple ingredients, and community connection helped turn a small baking hobby into one of Cottage Grove’s fastest growing local cottage bakeries.

Jo’s Dough products can also be found around town at several local businesses, including Bean There Done That, Coast Fork Brewing and Feed Store, and the Lorane Family Store, making it easy for neighbors to enjoy fresh baked sourdough and treats throughout the week.

Like many small local businesses, Jo’s Dough started in a kitchen with a simple goal. Share good food with the people around you.

Today, that idea continues to resonate across the community.

How would you describe Jo’s Dough to someone who’s never ordered before?

“Home. I think that would be the best way to describe who we are and the desired feeling we want people to have when they experience Jo’s Dough. We’re just a small family that likes yummy food. You’re not going to find some crazy wild recipes here, it’s more of the things that you’d find in your grandma’s kitchen. Cozy, inviting, loving, warm. You’re going to bite into one of our cookies and it’s going to give you that nostalgic sense of home.”

There are a lot of talented bakers and bakeries in our area. What do you believe sets Jo’s Dough apart?

“Each item that comes from our kitchen is truly made with love and compassion. There are so many amazing bakers in our area. I really do feel that each one of us has something different from each other. We were lucky enough to get our start within the South Valley Farmers Market and were able to connect face to face. Our customers get to come during the summer and pick their favorite items off our shelves. They get to ask questions about our items and sample them. Getting to meet and know our customers is a huge bonus of having our booth at the farmers market. People like seeing the face behind the baker.”

What inspired you personally to start baking and eventually turn it into a business?

“My family is a big part of who I am. Each person has something they are great at making, cookies, cakes, breads, savory meals. Growing up, someone was always in the kitchen. Since having our daughter, I wanted to give her those memories that I had too. So, I started baking bread, and it was actually good! We started giving it to family and friends and were told that it was too good to give away. This eventually led to selling it to family, friends, and more! It became something we never thought it would, Jo’s Dough!”

Who is Emily outside of Jo’s Dough?

“I’m a mom first and foremost and a wife to my massively supportive husband Mikie. He’s always my biggest cheerleader and telling me that I can achieve whatever I think is going to be a hurdle. I’ve been a hairstylist for almost 12 years, making connections with people in all walks of life. I love to read, so I’m always up for talking with my customers about books. But I think most would say the biggest thing about me is I’m very family oriented. My family are my people. Family isn’t just blood though, its community.”

What makes your sourdough and baked goods different from what people might find at a grocery store?

“For starters, you are able to pronounce the ingredients that are in our items. If you look at the ingredient label on a loaf of sourdough from Safeway, it will have fillers and other things that don’t belong in bread. Our ingredients are simply flour, water, and salt, with our sourdough starter being the natural leavening agent. Taking out the need for commercial yeast. All our items are made in a small batch, long fermented process.”

What are the current customer favorites?

“Our most popular bread currently is our Sourdough Sandwich loaf! It makes the most perfect toast and delicious sandwiches! Another popular favorite is the Dill Pickle and White Cheddar artisan loaf. Now, I know most people think ‘pickles in bread, no thank you’, but it’s just weird enough to be amazing. I have customers tell me they love it made into a tuna melt, or even a chicken salad sandwich!”

How does ordering from Jo’s Dough work?

“Our ordering process is pretty simple! We have a great website though Hotplate, and our customers can order straight through there! We do ‘drop offs’ for our orders every other Saturday, unless there is a holiday, then we work around that. But, if our customers don’t want to wait for every other week to get their favorite goodies, we have multiple places around town to get them! We typically drop off our items on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays! You can find them at Bean There Done That, Coast Fork Brewing and Feed Store, and the Lorane Family Store off Territorial!”

What does serving the Cottage Grove community mean to you?

“I’ve been a part of sports communities my whole life, family community, and a community with my clients as a hairstylist. But being a part of the Cottage Grove community is unlike anything I have experienced before. We started this business full force, and threw ourselves into the South Valley Farmers Market. From there, we were wrapped up into this big giant amazing group of people. Week after week we met new people, made some very close friends, and have learned more about our neighbors. My heart wanted to burst every time we had to miss a week, and the next week our new found friends would search us out. This community means more than just serving bread to people, it’s creating memories, friends, new found family, a sense of home.”

Fun Fact About Jo’s Dough

Jo’s Dough is named after Emily’s daughter Josephine, who was also named after Emily’s grandmother.

Friends and family call her Pheenie, Jo, or Jojo, and the bakery name became a natural fit once the business began taking shape.

Many customers assume Emily’s name must be Jo since she is the one baking the bread, but the name is actually a tribute to the daughter who inspired the journey.

Why the Community Chose Jo’s Dough

Jo’s Dough was selected as March’s Business of the Month because it represents something many people value deeply about small towns.

A family business built from scratch.

A baker who knows her customers.

Food made with simple ingredients, patience, and care.

What started as baking for family and friends has grown into a beloved local cottage bakery that continues to build connections throughout the community.

From the South Valley Farmers Market to local storefront shelves, Jo’s Dough has become one of the places neighbors return to again and again when they want something fresh, homemade, and familiar.

And when it comes to sourdough, many locals will tell you one thing.

Once you’ve had fresh sourdough from a local baker, the grocery store version never quite compares.