by CFSA | Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 –
Photo by Coastal Conservation League
Each year at the Sustainable Agriculture Conference (SAC), we recognize local leaders in sustainable agriculture. The awards honor institutions and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sustainable food movement in North or South Carolina and have helped make the Carolinas one of the fastest-growing sustainable agricultural sectors in the country. We’re accepting nominations for 2019 through October 15. To nominate someone for an award this year, click here.
In 2018, GrowFood Carolina received Business of the Year. This award recognizes a business that supports and advances the work of sustainable agriculture leaders in the Carolinas. GrowFood Carolina works with farmers, government agencies/officials, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities to support food and agriculture through statewide policy, local planning, infrastructure, technical assistance, and outreach and communications.
We caught up with Anthony Mirisciotta, General Manager of GrowFood Carolina, to hear about the importance of being awarded Business of the Year last year.
CFSA: What does GrowFood Carolina being awarded CFSA’s Business of the Year mean to you?
Anthony Mirisciotta: The first thing that comes to mind is that people are paying attention. You’re not always working within your own bubble. You can make a difference with how you manage food systems or farming. It makes us feel really good that people are noticing the work that we’re doing to elevate the local and regional food system.
CFSA: Which qualities should be considered when nominating 2019 Business of the Year?
Mirisciotta: Innovation, transparency in business and relationships, and creativity. You have to stir the pot. With work and working to elevate food systems in the changing climate that we’re up against, you have to think about things differently. A lot of it is taking a chance. You have to be a little bit of a risk-taker to get to that next level, whatever it is.
CFSA: What do you think farmers in the Carolinas need right now for the sustainable agriculture movement to grow?
Mirisciotta: I’ve been focusing on a creative and transparent voice to guide and diversify the food system. I think that farmers and seasons now are a lot different then they were 20-40 years ago. But at this time, I see a lot of opportunities for using the warm winter climate to our advantage especially in South Carolina/Coastal South Carolina. I see an opportunity and need for creative crop diversity. We have about 30 new seed varieties planned for this winter.
CFSA: What inspires you to work in this industry?
Mirisciotta: For me, it truly came out of curiosity when I was younger. I was curious about food production and wanted to know what it takes to produce food, where it comes from, where it’s being grown, who is growing it.
I started working in produce at a Whole Foods store and fell in love with it. Being able to connect with the farmers, asking about the box of tomatoes or bag of potatoes—it felt right. I was eager to learn and hungry to learn more. From there, I became the only full-time employee at Deep Root Organic in Vermont, one of the oldest organic vegetable co-ops in the country. I spent days and nights with the farmers. Not only did I get to work with them closely but I also got to know them – the heart, soul, sweat, and tears they put into the food they grew. Every single minute, I was surrounded by the seasons and seeing and hearing what it really took to produce that box of kale or the box of pumpkins. I knew that I wanted to be the voice of the small farmer and do everything I could to accurately represent and help them.
“What I learned the most is how important not just passion is but a creative passion is in this industry.”
After my time there, I got the bug to move on and go to the big leagues of produce and hit the road for California. I stayed there for about four years. I worked for Earl’s Organic Produce. I got to meet and work with a lot of titans in the industry. What I learned the most is how important not just passion is but a creative passion is in this industry. It’s all about bringing creativity and new thoughts into it—whether it’s trying a new seed variety or trying a new pack size.
Who else received an annual award in 2018? See our blog post, 2018 Annual Award Winners.
Nominate Someone for a 2019 Award
Do you know someone or an organization that’s filled with the creative passion Anthony speaks of? Someone who is elevating the food industry and moving things forward? Nominate them for an award!
We’re accepting nominations until Oct. 15, 2019.