Project Description

Lisa Dearden

Lisa Dearden had over 20+ yrs experience in sales, marketing, finance and training when a health challenge triggered her to switch gears and pursued a degree in Horticulture with a focus on sustainable agriculture.  She now lives on a homestead farm in Goochland County, Virginia where she has grown vegetables, fruits and berries, and has raised chickens, goats, rabbits and alpacas.  Her company, Chiknegg Productions, operates an incubator kitchen, which is available for rent by-the-hour, and she offers ServSave® food safety training as well as consulting services to food entrepreneurs and organizations looking for help navigating their entry into the local food system.  She founded and serves as Executive Director of a non-profit called RVAg that operates multiple farmers markets and pop-up events, and also provides low-cost/no-cost ag and food-centric educational programs. Lisa currently serves as Chair of the Goochland County Economic Development Authority and as Treasurer of the Virginia Farmers Market Association.