Erica Hellen runs Free Union Grass Farm near Charlottesville with her business partner Joel Slezak. Using rotational grazing practices, the farm produces pastured chicken and duck, free-range eggs, 100% grass-fed beef, and forest-fed pork. Joel and Erica started the farm in 2010 on 13 acres of family land and it has since expanded production to [...]

Andrew Bayker runs Charlottesville-based Althea Bread with his wife Susan. They started the bakery in 2018 and operate it out of their cottage in the woods in southern Albemarle County. Although still in the developmental stages, their business is making a huge impact, particularly through their commitment to the local grain economy by sourcing from [...]

Heather Coiner runs Little Hat Creek Farm in Nelson County with her husband Ben Stowe. They grow dozens of varieties of seasonal vegetables and berries using ecological practices. They also have an on-farm wood-fired bakery, overseen by Heather, used to produce sourdough breads - using mostly local and regional organic grains - and sumptuous pastries. [...]

Rebecca Rowe Rebecca Rowe traded cannolis and cappuccinos for banana pudding and bourbon when she moved from upstate New York to Richmond, Virginia. Rebecca has degrees from SUNY Geneseo and Texas A&M and more than 20 years of experience in Community Revitalization programs. She lives on the Northside of Richmond with her husband and rescued [...]

Cheryl owns a home in Petersburg with her husband Troy. She has been the Manager of River Street Market in Petersburg since July 2017. She is a State Certified Horticulturist and Master Gardener. Cheryl started at farmers markets while working for Agriberry Farm in 2016. She was also a customer of the CSA Seasonal Roots [...]

Sarah Showalter and her husband, Shannon, are second-generation owners of Showalter’s Orchard & Old Hill Cidery in Timberville, VA. Sarah describes herself as: wife, mother, farmer, and business owner in this order because this is the order that she has stepped into these roles over the last 30 years. She is one part of a [...]

Ann Vargo Ann has worked as a FCS SNAP-Ed Agent in the SE District-Greater Richmond area since 2010. She loves farmers markets and has worked with markets her area for the past 5 years, helping to promote SNAP and encourage buying local produce. Ann loves to prepare and share tasty recipe samples to market goers [...]

Emily Flippo Project Manager Office of Agriculture & Forestry Development Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Emily Flippo joined the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in December 2018 as a Project Manager in the Office of Agriculture & Forestry Development. Emily works to promote economic development in Virginia's agriculture and forestry sectors [...]

Emilie Davis Emilie Davis is the founder and creative partner of LinkHouse Consultants, a branding and creative strategy company based in Lexington, VA. With over ten years of experience in graphic design, print marketing, publishing, and web design, Emilie serves not only as a designer, but as a liaison with vendors, freelancers, and other consultants [...]

Heather Wheeler Business and Marketing Specialist, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Heather Wheeler is the Virginia Grown Program Manager at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services where she partners with producers, farmers market managers, farmers market vendors and buyers across the state of Virginia to promote fresh, local products and to [...]