What attracted you to a good food job?

In the fall of 2009, we decided to commit to making more sustainable food choices by attempting to shop for food exclusively at the Union Square Greenmarket. In doing so, one of the greatest challenges we faced was carrying all of our purchases home at the end of our shopping trips. We realized that the farmers market may be underutilized since, unlike the local supermarkets, it didn't offer a delivery service to make it more convenient for customers. After applying for and winning the $10,000 grand prize in a social venture competition called the "Be a Changemaker Challenge," we were able to turn our vision for a sustainable farmers market delivery service into a reality. The goal of Cycles Delivery is to encourage new customers to shop at the market and current customers to purchase more, thus increasing support for local organic farmers and their ethical and environmentally sustainable farming practices.

In addition, because our delivery service runs on bicycles, it provides an alternative means of transportation to customers who would usually take their purchases home in carbon-emitting vehicles but are seeking an environmentally sustainable option. Read more about it at our website, CyclesNYC.com.

How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?

We met our freshman year at NYU in an animal studies class, where we were first introduced to the ethical issues surrounding the food we eat. Now, as NYU juniors, we're combining our unique sets of skills and experiences to create something new in the food movement. Ashley's experience working full-time at a Community Supported Agriculture Farm for a season and volunteering for a week on an alternative break with the Jewish Farm School gave her first-hand insight into the intricacies of growing and marketing local organic food to consumers. In addition, her internship with a senior attorney at the Natural Resource Defense Council solidified her commitment to environmental work and helped her establish connections in the environmental field.  Her passion for food and farming were the motivation behind her work to start Cycles and help bring good food to more people.

In high school, Michelle was diagnosed with a metabolic condition that predisposed her to diabetes and put her at risk for heart disease. She learned about the good food movement by researching healthier diets and reading the works of food activists like Michael Pollan and Anna Lappe. Not so coincidentally, she discovered that what was healthy for her body was also healthy for the environment. She dedicated herself to making better food choices, and after losing 70 pounds she wanted to do something to help others realize the power behind the sustainable food movement.

What advice do you have for others in search of a good food job?

Good food businesses like Cycles have to meet their positive social goals while remaining financially sustainable. It can difficult to balance each of these priorities and succeed at both. This is complicated further by the fact that there is not a lot of money available for good food businesses. The large scale agriculture and food production operations are what get funded by the government, which is why small farmers and small food organizations are struggling.

New movements and start-up businesses like ours are difficult to sustain because they're going against the grain by doing something new. In order to be successful, you're going to need to be passionate about what you're doing. That's going to be your drive to continue when things get hard.

If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?

Peaches. And being able to see that our efforts are making a positive impact.