Whole Woman Network’s Post

I came up with the term "inclusively exclusive" as a way to protect my peace as a single Black woman who built Green Heffa Farms from the ground up. It’s a reminder that while Green Heffa Farms is open to all who value high-quality, ethically grown herbs, we are rooted in a mission that honors the land, our ancestors, future generations and the work it takes to bring real change to agriculture. Being inclusively exclusive means we welcome those who truly get it—those who understand that this farm wasn’t built overnight and that our products aren’t about fast, cheap, or trendy. It’s about doing things the right way, even if it takes longer. It’s for the conscious consumers who feel good about supporting a Black woman-owned business and who value quality over convenience. This space is for everyone, but not everyone will appreciate the care, patience, and heart we pour into every plant. And that’s okay. We’re cultivating a community, not just customers. #InclusivelyExclusive #BlackWomanOwned #GreenHeffaFarms #ProtectingMyPeace #ConsciousConsumer #SustainableFarming #nofilter #herbs #wellbeing

From Corporate to Country… It’s no secret to anyone in my family, friends groups, or social media community that I’ve made some drastic lifestyle changes over the last couple of years. I’ve gotten a variety of questions such as “How in the absolute heck did you get into agriculture?” or “Why would you leave such a fun and lavished lifestyle working with top brands & celebrities for the “country”? If you were to tell me a couple years ago while I was working with one of the most fun and talented groups, building an amazing brand, working alongside folks like this guy (on the left) that I was going to be building a tech company to serve American agriculture — I would’ve laughed you out of the room. After having what I consider a life-altering experience that sent me on a journey, digging deeper in my family history, learning more about our ties within agriculture sent me on a path that unravelled the reality that American Farmers are amongst the most underserved community in our country... We interact with agriculture every day, yet we don’t talk about it. We don’t recognize it. Why? That very “why?” opened up a world that I would never thought I’d exist in and one that i’ll never be able to leave untouched. As much as Yellowstone certainly brought the cool back in the cowboy for many, that isn’t a true depiction of the sacrifice, blood and sweat the our farmers face daily to keep our food system fed. So fast forward to 2023, I founded a tech-company alongside childhood friend, Tyler Speer, called Our Farms: America’s Farm Direct Marketplace. A place where American’s can reconnect with the source of their food: The Farmer. Standing beside me, farmer and rancher Allen Estes embodies the hardworking individuals I now proudly represent and serve daily, hoping to improve their lives in return for all they've given us. I’ll save you the story of hours and hours of research, development, partners, and investment that have gone into where we’re headed as a company, just to say, big things are coming for our American food-system and our connection with food. To those who believed and invested in me all along the way, long before building a tech company, I can’t thank you enough for opening my world to the experiences that have made a major impact in what we’re doing at Our Farms. For the Farmer, RD

🌱 The Unsung Heroes: Our Food Growers 🌱 In a world where words carry power, the way we describe someone's profession can transform how they view themselves and how others perceive them. Just as barbers are now called "Hair Stylists" to reflect their creativity and professionalism, it’s time we rethink how we refer to our farmers. What if we called Farmers the Food Growers? This term highlights the essence of their role — nurturing the land, growing the crops, and providing the food we eat every day. It’s a simple but powerful title that brings pride to their work and recognizes their vital contributions to our communities. By changing the language we use, we can show greater respect and appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to feeding us. Just like "Hair Stylists" elevate the perception of barbers, calling farmers "Food Growers" gives them a more empowered identity. Let’s celebrate our Food Growers and recognize their essential role in sustaining our food supply! 🌾 #FoodGrowers #Farmers #Agriculture #Sustainability #RespectTheLand #LinkedInCommunity

👩🌾 What do farmers wear?👩🌾 That was the hot topic this morning. Overalls were the consensus from my six-year-olds. A dated stereotype that signals a bigger issue. People still don't know much about how their food is raised. The least important being their apparel choices. Next month, I'll be speaking at the Mid-Atlantic Farmers Market Conference, and I have been thinking a lot about to share that will have the biggest impact. Not only are farmer's market farmers competing with the value and convenience of traditional grocery stores, but also with their fellow vendors, who are working alongside them to preserve small family farms.  They have a big challenge to break through to consumers, in addition to the challenges of running a farm. My instinct is to keep is simple focus on the core of connecting with consumers. Find the Connection: Consumers don’t often connect with the “typical farmer” but they do connect with new parents, small business owners, and recharging in nature. Find your consumer in the people or cause you are serving and you’ll find people passionate about your mission. Make it Easy: Consumers don’t have to understand every nuance of your mission to be supporters. Most people don’t even know about the tournament system, or how it negatively impacts farmers, but they do know farmers should receive fair pay. Make it About Them: Even the most conscious consumers are in it for themselves in some way. So figure out what you are really selling: helping them be an amazing farm-to-table cook, connecting with the flavors they loved as a child, the cache of finding something no one else knows about. ❓ What do you think? What else can I share to help them create a brand that consumers will connect with? Happy National Farmers's Day (tomorrow). Virginia Farmers Market Association #nationalfarmersday #food #farming #ag #marketing

🚀 We started Moyee with hearts full of hope, giving a 20% FairChain premium to our farmers, thinking we were the superheroes of the coffee world. But guess what? We realized it wasn't nearly enough! When the truth hit, we didn't sit there sipping our FairChain espressos in despair. Instead, we had a REALITY CHECK! We swapped our 'fairest coffee company' title for a more humble 'least unfair coffee company' and dove into some serious brainstorming. 🤔 Teaming up with the brilliant minds at the FairChain Foundation, we developed a new strategy—the FairChain Farming program. It's focused on empowering farmers to run profitable farms and benefit from value-adding opportunities. We became the FIRST Dutch company to commission a living income study in Ethiopia's factories. We moved away from the 20% premium and identified the real magic number: a Living Income Reference Price. The LIRP ensures our farmers can live well and THRIVE from their work, send their kids to a school, and so on. No more vague "fair" talk, like Guido says: "WHAT THE F*CK IS FAIR!?" At Moyee, we're all about transparency and those cold, hard facts and figures. 📊 Curious about the nitty-gritty? Dive into the 'Farmers' chapter in our Impact Report.

I’m excited to announce my last three speaking engagements for 2024. I’ll be sharing insights on sustainable farming, fundraising for farmers focused on a minimal debt strategy, building farmer-owned brands, and the transformative power of equity in agriculture: 1️⃣ 2024 Southern Region Small Farms Conference, Mobile, AL 2️⃣ Building and Promoting a Farm Brand Workshop, Conyers, GA 3️⃣ 2024 Virginia Farm to Table Conference, Weyers Cave, VA A special shoutout to everyone who supports Green Heffa Farms, whether you’re enjoying our premium herbal products grown with intention or partnering with me as a keynote speaker, educator, or workshop facilitator. These connections matter. Thank you for recognizing the value of collaboration in this work. We’re growing something bigger than all of us, and I look forward to building that vision together. For details on these events, future engagements, upcoming publications, and all things related to my personal brand, please visit my new website, www.farmercee.com! As of now, I’m booking engagements beyond March 2024. Note that my availability shifts and fees adjust during the spring and summer months when farm life calls. Being on the land and having my hands in the soil not only makes me a better business leader but is necessary for my own wellbeing. And of course, visit www.greenheffafarms.com to get your herbal needs met. Not only do we grow our herbs regeneratively and organically, but we are proud to also carry 100% oppression-free botanicals. Adds to the effectiveness exponentially. #farmercee #greenheffafarms #herbalwellness #naturalhealth #farmer #entrepreneur #CEO #Regenerativeagriculture #organic #refreshedfaceoffarming #Blackwomanfarmer #smallfarms

I recently joined ADM at Kyle Schminke's family #farm in Iowa to learn about the positive benefits of #RegenerativeAgriculture for the environment and stakeholders across the value chain -- from #farmers and #IngredientSuppliers to #CPG #food and #beverage #manufacturers and #grocery #retailers. Among the benefits for #FoodAndBeverage #brands and retailers that support #RegenAg are increased consumer loyalty, purchase intent and the ability to command higher prices. Sourcing regeneratively farmed ingredients also can help companies meet #sustainability goals and lower stubborn #Scope3emissions. In this video, which is beautifully shot by Carly Rude, I spoke with ADM's Paul Scheetz and Theo Gunther as well as third-generation farmer Kyle Schminke about partnerships, pilots and patience necessary to build regenerative agriculture #supplychains and why the time to act is now. Check out the full video and story: https://lnkd.in/dMxuqPAZ #foodnews #foodandbeverageindustry #environmentalsustainability

If you are cruising through your errands this weekend and see this bin… Do yourself a favor and grab a melon! It’s been very cool seeing Melon1’s packaging and bins all over the place lately. Often we take for granted picking produce - we simply grab a fruit or veggie and don’t think about what it took to get that item from farm to store to your fridge. I have had the pleasure of getting to know many members of fhe Melon1 family and I think it’s important to acknowledge the work/dedication it takes to fill our fridges with quality (key word quality) food. Melon1 is a big player in the watermelon world, but it still feels like a family affair. Born from the collaboration of multiple multi-generational watermelon businesses. Today, Melon1 partners with family farms across the U.S. and Central America, ensuring top-notch quality and freshness. The farmers, often multi-generational, bring decades of expertise, whether they're in Florida, Georgia, or beyond. It's this blend of tradition, innovation, and most importantly - collaboration that keeps them at the forefront of the watermelon industry as well as the agriculture industry as a whole! The collaborative efforts on display at Melon1 and other farming organizations are a great reminder to other sectors on how to work together at scale. Farmers are such an important part of our economy and it should get every American fired up to see this bin when they walk into a store! I mean look at that - American grown. High quality food. Even the pallet is red, white, and blue!

🌾 Happy National Farmers Day! 🌾 Today, we celebrate the backbone of our food system: farmers! As a proud member of Bonipak Produce and Betteravia Farms, I’m grateful for the incredible farmers we work alongside every day. Their dedication, hard work, and commitment to sustainable practices ensure that we have fresh, high-quality produce to share with our communities. 🚜 Why Farmers Matter: 1. Sustainability: Farmers are at the forefront of implementing eco-friendly practices that protect our land and resources for future generations. 2. Innovation: Through technology and new methods, our farmers are revolutionizing how we grow and harvest, making our food systems more efficient and resilient. 3. Community Impact: Farmers not only feed our families but also support local economies and contribute to vibrant rural communities. Let’s take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hard work and passion that goes into every crop planted and harvested. Thank you to all the farmers out there for your invaluable contributions! Personally, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible people I have the privilege of working with; Alain, Anthony, Andrew, Jeremy, Dylan and the entire harvest team! Your hard work, dedication, and passion make all the difference in our production journey! 🌟 Join me in celebrating our farmers! Share a story or shout-out to a farmer you know in the comments below! #NationalFarmersDay #FarmToTable #Agriculture #Sustainability #ProduceIndustry

🫐 The Superfruit Boom is Here! 🫐 Agrovision, a sustainable food-tech startup, today closed $100M in funding at a $1B+ valuation to revolutionize your snacking habits with their premium superfruits. As consumers turn to healthier options, berries are leading the charge. With a notable rise in whole fruits consumption, Agrovision's juicy, jumbo blueberries—sold under the Fruitist brand at your favorite stores like Costco, Giant, Publix, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Wakefernand, and Whole Foods—are flying off the shelves. Sales have nearly tripled in the past three years, and this fresh round of funding will bring even more delicious and snackable superfruit varieties to a store near you. Next time you're grocery shopping, reach for Fruitist and taste the innovation! To learn more, Steve M., co-founder and CEO of Agrovision, spoke with Bloomberg's Sarah McBride seizing on a broader trend of growth in US berry consumption. https://bloom.bg/3LOZ7aX CC: Lars Rikse, Maggie Philbin, Vijay Chattha, Hannah Colson, Reysita Llarena, Natalie Bartels #HealthySnacking #Superfruits #Sustainability #FundingNews