Charlottesville, Virginia (August 14, 2023) – Following an extensive national search process, Local Food Hub is pleased to announce Laryssa Smith as its next Executive Director. She begins her new role on September 7, 2023.
Laryssa joins Local Food Hub to support its mission to strengthen local food systems by advocating for fairness in farming, advancing equitable access to local food, and providing support to small, independent farmers. As Executive Director, she will work closely with the organization’s team of staff, Board, partners, and the community to achieve the organization’s strategic plan and build a strong and resilient local food system, centered on equity. Laryssa was selected from a broad field of candidates, following a comprehensive interview process led by a search committee including representatives from the board, staff, and community.
“Laryssa’s creativity, servant leadership acumen, and relational communication style will serve our team and community well,” said Dr. Marcus Comer, member of the search committee and Local Food Hub board chair. “We are looking forward to welcoming her with open arms and are grateful she is joining our community.”
Laryssa is a registered dietician and a seasoned leadership executive with relevant experience in health and nutrition and federal grants management. Laryssa most recently served the YMCA of Memphis and Midsouth TN as Executive Director and Vice President of Nutrition Services, scaling the program from 20,000 to 41,000 meals per week within one year.
“I am thrilled to be joining Local Food Hub!” said Laryssa Smith, incoming Executive Director. “It is an honor to serve alongside such a passionate, dedicated and talented community of farmers, colleagues, board members, and partners. With gratitude and humility, I look forward to continuing the meaningful and impactful work that has defined LFH over the last 15 years, as we seek to enhance local food systems and support independent farmers.”
Local Food Hub looks forward to introducing Laryssa to community partners, farmers, and residents this September, including at Local Food Hub’s annual Food From Our Farms Dinner, scheduled for September 14.
For more information about Local Food Hub, visit www.localfoodhub.org.
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About Local Food Hub:
Local Food Hub was founded in 2009 to work with Virginia farmers to increase community access to local food. We bought, aggregated, and sold food from small, independent farms; provided technical assistance to growers; and created programs to increase food access. In 2019 Local Food Hub transferred its distribution operation to the mission-aligned company 4P Foods, allowing Local Food Hub to concentrate on the nonprofit programs that serve as the foundation for a more resilient food system. These became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, and grew to include the area’s first contactless farmers market and greatly expanded food access programs.
Local Food Hub has always believed that good food should be a right, that food should be grown with care for the earth, and that our small farms and our farmland should be preserved. Their work now falls into three primary categories: farm support services, food access, and regional food system development
Contact:
Portia Boggs
Director of Advancement and Communications
portia@localfoodhub.org | 859-619-3791
