Meet Our New Executive Director

After leading The Good Acre since its founding in 2015, Rhys Williams, retired as Executive Director at the end of 2021. After a national search, our board of directors hired Theresa McCormick in February. Prior to joining The Good Acre, Theresa spent nearly a decade working at Second Harvest Heartland, most recently as their Director of Programs and Healthcare Partnerships. During her time there she led initiatives to increase access to food and connect food-insecure patients to nutritious food and education to improve health. Here is a letter from Theresa. 

Hello! 

I come to The Good Acre after spending nearly a decade working in hunger relief. It was work that clarified for me that food is so much more than just food. It is connection, community, culture, memory, and dignity. I’m honored to join The Good Acre community and to be a part of building a food system that values and uplifts people – from growers to eaters – and creates lasting change so our food systems work for everyone.

As Executive Director of The Good Acre, I look forward to continuing to support fair prices for farmers and investing in the infrastructure that our food hub requires to help ensure that local food can be an accessible choice in our communities. And I am very proud of our commitment to source from so many diverse farmers, and connecting farmers to new and expanding wholesale markets. This is part of how we are working to build a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable food system. ⁣

The COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored the importance of resilient supply chains and the role of local food systems as an integral part of local economies. Innovative programs, like LEAFF, that were born in response to pandemic disruptions are showing that investing in local farmers can have a major impact on small local farms, and can help bring culturally-relevant produce that is so needed in areas where our hunger relief partners operate.  

I also know that The Good Acre is more than a food hub, we are a business incubator providing local makers access to resources and infrastructure they need to run a successful food business. And through our Vocational Culinary Training program, VoCul, we are supporting culinary career development with a farm to school focus. 

Our flourishing programs are proof positive that investing in growers and makers has a ripple effect through our community, creating markets and jobs, supporting community health and wellbeing, and supporting farmers so they can steward their land and stay resilient in the face of a changing climate. 

As we get closer to the start of the 2022 growing season, I am excited to continue the momentum of The Good Acre. Thank you for being a part of this community!

Theresa McCormick
Executive Director
theresa@thegoodacre.org