What attracted you to a good food job?
Beyond that, our industrial food system is a mess: bad for people's health, bad for the land, and bad for many of the farmers. There are numerous opportunities for people to live a good life and have a good business that works to build a vibrant, regionally based, healthy food system that focuses primarily on fresh and minimally processed foods. I hope to take advantage of one or several of those opportunities.
How did you get your current good food job?
In my last month as a student, my girlfriend Amanda Warren and I organized a panel discussion of Middlebury College alums who are farmers in Vermont, and Barney Hodges, my current employer, was one of the farmers that served on the panel. Leading up to it and afterward, we had lively conversations about new business opportunities in the Northeast's food system. We kept trading ideas and, after he applied and received two grants, he hired me to hone in on these opportunities and help incubate one or several businesses in our facility.
How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?
I owe the crux of my experience to Middlebury College, especially Jay Leshinsky and the organic garden, for teaching me how to write good and for introducing me into the area of food and agriculture in Vermont. And then also to Will and Judy Stevens of Golden Russet Farm, for teaching me the ins and outs of production agriculture. I also tip my hat to my parents for raising my brothers and me in small business and instilling us with the entrepreneurial spirit that has helped this great country thrive for so long.
What advice do you have for others in search of a good food job?
Cook, a lot. No matter what side of food you are on - farming, distribution, policy, finance - cooking makes you intimate with the latest changes in the industry and helps you see the upcoming opportunities. It's also great to attend annual conferences (e.g. NOFA, Eco-Farm, Common Ground) and keep up with the books, blogs, and twitter feeds.
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
Barney Hodges' apples, Kirk Webster's honey, Ben Gleason's flour, and Diane St. Claire's butter - the only ingredients necessary to make the most delicious apple pie ever.