Many of you know by now that we at Good Food Jobs are partial to dairy products. We just can't help it. Perhaps the only thing better than a tall glass of milk, fresh from the farm, is knowing that the people behind it are dedicated to promoting sustainable food. Since Five Acre Farms launched its Local Milk and made it accessible for supermarket shoppers, the cartons have been selling like hotcakes. If you've picked it up off the shelf, prepare to feel even better about your purchase by getting to know the woman who made it possible.
What attracted you to a good food job?
I have had my hand in food since I was very young, doing everything from selling at farmers' markets to working at specialty food stores, recipe testing, cooking privately and co-authoring a cookbook called "The Meatclub Cookbook ? For Gals Who Love Their Meat." These jobs are varied, but they have a common denominator: all of them are about sharing my love of food, teaching and exposing people to new, delicious, foods.
As Director of Operations at Five Acre Farms, a new brand of local dairy products that are carried at the supermarket, I manage the operational logistics involved in getting products "from udder to shelf" and I'm responsible for building relationships with our participating farmers and sourcing new product. I was attracted to my position at Five Acre Farms because it connects me to the areas in my own life that I am passionate about ? teaching people about food, knowing where my food comes from and how it is grown. Every day I learn something new about how our farmers are treating animals properly, preserving farmland, and protecting groundwater using sustainable practices. I have come to appreciate what this really means. It has taught me about the economics of farming and the true cost of getting food from farm to table.
How did you get your current good food job?
Fortunately for me, one of my closest friends, Carlin Greenstein, who is a personal chef and co-founder of Chew on This, had an informational interview with Dan Horan, Five Acre Farms' founder and CEO, last summer. Carlin loved the idea of Dan's new company and thought that while the job wasn't for her, it would be right up my alley. After about 15 hours of challenging, thought-provoking interviews (throughout which I kept saying to myself, "man, i want this job!") I was thrilled when Dan offered it to me. I came on board November 1st.
How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?
My family is a stereotypical Italian/Irish clan, and food has always been the focus. At an early age, I mastered the basics of Italian cooking (and eating!) in my granny's kitchen. My job folds naturally into my life, not only because it is a food company but also because the company's values ? including respecting food, knowing where and how it is grown, not wasting it and enjoying it ? are consistent with mine. The process of preparing, sharing and learning about food, which I've been doing in different ways all my life, is such a connector of all people, and Five Acre Farms is about connecting people to their food, farmers and communities.
My experience working in retail consulting at Accenture, where I focused on improving clients' operations and customer service, also prepared me for this type of work. This job is about understanding each stage in the process of getting food from farm to table (involving the farmer, the distributors, the supermarket and the end customer) and how all the pieces work together to enable us to provide high quality products and outstanding customer service.
What advice do you have for others in search of a good food job?
Talk to everyone you know about what you want to do, and don't give up. This was good advice that was passed on to me, and it worked! You'd be surprised what happens when you share what your dream job is with people. Realize it's okay not to have a specific job or title in mind ? not everything fits into a box, title or an existing job. Instead, focus on your skills, what excites you and the environment you want to work in. It may not happen right away, but you will start to move in the direction of where you want to go.
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
Milk, of course!