Event

Sustainable Food Systems Lecture Series: Bridging Customers and Farmers During COVID
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Online
For More Information:
samurai7@umd.edu
https://agnr.umd.edu/sustainable-food-systems-lecture-series

Title: Pickles, Potatoes, and Pesto: Bridging Customers and Farmers During COVID
Speaker: Stacey Carlberg, Co-owner of Fireside Farm; Caitlin Roberts, Co-founder of Number 1 Sons
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 30 : 6:00-7:00pm

Stacey Carlberg has been farming in Virginia since 2006, including management positions at The Farm at Sunnyside and Potomac Vegetable Farms. She finds that farming combines her interests in ecology, environmental conservation and food production with teamwork and community building. Pre-COVID Stacey sold the majority of crops through fast-paced farmer's markets like the Dupont Circle Farmers Market and restaurant sales. 2020 was a huge pivot for Stacey and her team as they sold half of their produce through Number 1 Sons home delivery. She also reorganized the Rappahannock Farmers Market to be a drive through market and tripled their local sales. In 2021, she and her husband Casey are starting their own farm business, Fireside Farm, in Loudoun County, VA.  

Caitlin Roberts is the co-founder of Number 1 Sons, a DC based fermentation company. Their unique approach to hospitality, sourcing, and educating the community has helped make them a DMV staple. Caitlin managed the operations for their 30 farmers market stands and a seasonal staff of 50 pickle people.  In response to COVID, Caitlin created partnerships with dozens of local farms and food producers to start a home delivery service. Over a few months, Caitlin led a small team in development of the technology, user experience and logistics for this new business. This service has made tens of thousands of deliveries since. From social media to staff training to classroom field trips, Caitlin is passionate about telling the entire story of the food system rooted in people.