Bon Appétit Management Company Supports Farmer-Veteran Coalition Fellows’ Farming Aspirations

Bon Appétit Management Company Supports Farmer-Veteran Coalition Fellows’ Farming Aspirations

At the end of this month, all American troops will have been withdrawn from Iraq. Not only do they face a difficult re-entry into civilian society, but those leaving the service also face a tough job market, particularly in the rural areas to which many are returning.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition has received a boost for its mission to mobilize veterans to feed America, by helping them gain momentum in their early farming careers. Bon Appétit Management Company has made a sizable holiday gift to the organization on behalf of the food service provider’s clients.

Thus far, veteran farmers Drew Wood, Vonita Murray, Matt Soldano, Phillip Northcutt, Kelly Carlisle and Frank Golbeck have each been awarded a portion of the grant and the title of Bon Appétit Good Food Fellow. These veterans represent the great diversity within our group of Fellowship Fund grantees both in background and agricultural focus.

Frank Golbeck, a US Navy veteran, started Golden Coast Mead on his family’s land in San Diego, California. As a Bon Appétit Good Food Fellow, he will be purchasing beehives to create an Estate Mead (honey wine). Air Force veteran Drew Wood runs a free-range poultry farm in Berryville, Arkansas, with his fiancée, Katie. The Bon Appétit grant has helped them purchase processing equipment that has already increased their productivity and sales this past November. Kelly Carlisle, a mother and veteran of the US Navy Reserve, began Acta Non Verba, a non-profit urban farm in East Oakland that focuses on serving at-risk youth from kindergarten to 5^th grade. As a grantee, Kelly will be able to further the mission of her non-profit.

According to Fellowship Fund Director Tia Christopher, “Our small grant program is unique in that we pair mentors with funding which creates a system of support for these veteran entrepreneurs.” With this grant from Bon Appétit Management Company, FVC hopes to continue with this successful work, supporting more and more veterans and their communities.

“America desperately needs more farmers,” said Bon Appétit Management Company CEO Fedele Bauccio. “We are proud to support these men and women who, having already served their country once, are willing to do so again by increasing our food security.”

Bon Appétit Management Company (www.bamco.com) is an on-site restaurant company offering full food-service management to corporations, universities, and specialty venues. Based in Palo Alto, CA, Bon Appétit has more than 400 cafés in 31 states, including eBay, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Getty Center. A pioneer in environmentally sound sourcing policies, Bon Appétit has developed initiatives addressing local purchasing, the overuse of antibiotics, sustainable seafood, cage-free eggs, the connection between food and climate change, and most recently, farmworker welfare. The impact of their programs has been far-reaching and meaningful.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition is a national organization connecting military veterans with opportunities for employment, training, and places to heal on America’s farms. Parties interested in providing support to the fellowship or general support to FVC can reach us at info@farmvetco.org or call (530)-756-1395.

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