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Meet Lauren McGrath, Farmigo Champion

Posted October 4, 2013

Culinary entrepreneurship is Lauren McGrath’s career path.

She possesses more than 25 years of successful, New York City professional culinary experience as caterer, food consultant, food activist – helping to organize the first Harlem Harvest Fair and Food Summit -- personal chef, food educator and a founding partner at Rick’s Picks, the much-loved pickles made with locally-sourced ingredients that Lauren worked to commercialize, creating an enduring artisanal food brand.

It’s a natural progression that Lauren’s search for fresh food for her family and neighbors led her to Farmigo.

And her nose for food business opportunity led her to sign on straight away to become the first New York City Farmigo Champion!

From a food Village to a Food Desert

It wasn’t that long ago that Lauren and her family moved from Manhattan’s West Village to Harlem. Here, they could have space – and a yard for her two children.

But those luxuries came at a price.

She and her family forfeited easy access to the farmers markets and other artisanal food makers she’d been in culinary-love with.

In her new uptown world, the food access severely narrowed. The Harlem-based Fairway isn’t in her neighborhood as New Yorkers define it and carries virtually nothing in the way of local food. There are bodegas and grocery stores within walking distance but their emphasis is on tropical fruits and vegetables, not bad, but definitely not local.

There are occasional farmer's markets but only in the summer season and limited selection. And there is no local dairy products to be had anywhere nearby, according to Lauren.

Farmigo Food Dreams

Her introduction to Farmigo was like stepping through the looking glass to good food in her Harlem neighborhood. Lauren saw "Farmigo Creates People Powered Farmers Markets" online. They empower Champions to create their own, unique food community, connecting local farms to the people in the same geographic area.

The very idea that Farmigo provides a path to community-oriented food systems aligned with Lauren’s dream of getting fresh food to her family and neighbors.

With Farmigo, she could essentially leapfrog the existing food chain (such as it was) to bring fresh AND locally grown food straight to her neighborhood.

In her uncompromising, lifelong quest to connect farms to people and to secure the freshest, tastiest food, she explains, “Farmigo gives me the chance to especially help people who don’t have ready access to the locally grown ingredients I’ve been using throughout my culinary career. “ And she loves the fact that Farmigo is a way to give farms a new steady outlet for business.

Her instincts whispered that her culinary entrepreneurship could blossom with Farmigo’s collaborative platform.

Farmigo provides all the tools and support Lauren needs to be a successful Champion, a recognized leader and entrepreneur who continues to build her own local Farmigo food business in just a few hours a week.

Farmigo Members access a cornucopia of food found at traditional farmers markets with the selections conveniently provided online.

The weekly food pick-ups provide the community experience of the greenmarket where members exchange recipes, wellness tips and food chat.

As a Farmigo member, there is no fee and no minimum; there is the flexibility to maintain a standing order or revise each week or skip -- all of which allows members to customize their weekly purchases which are delivered bagged up, labeled and ready to go.

“One of the greatest benefit to members is the convenience and reliability of getting their orders customized to their lifestyle and budgets,” explains Lauren.

Farmigo Food Helps Build Community

“The greatest reward Farmigo offers me is that of truly connecting better to my neighborhood,” Lauren said with firm satisfaction.

Farmigo not only provides a reliable, easy connection to fresh food but it’s a direct link to her community.

Lauren’s quiet, determined dedication to bring homegrown edibles to a community with scarce resources has created an oasis where food is the cornerstone.

She describes how the food makes her neighborhood a more vibrant, close-knit community. “This has been a good way to engage with neighbors in a very positive way.”

Lauren McGrath Champion

Culinary entrepreneurship is Lauren McGrath’s career path.

She possesses more than 25 years of successful, New York City professional culinary experience as caterer, food consultant, food activist – helping to organize the first Harlem Harvest Fair and Food Summit -- personal chef, food educator and a founding partner at Rick’s Picks, the much-loved pickles made with locally-sourced ingredients that Lauren worked to commercialize, creating an enduring artisanal food brand.

It’s a natural progression that Lauren’s search for fresh food for her family and neighbors led her to Farmigo.

And her nose for food business opportunity led her to sign on straight away to become the first New York City Farmigo Champion!

From a food Village to a Food Desert

It wasn’t that long ago that Lauren and her family moved from Manhattan’s West Village to Harlem. Here, they could have space – and a yard for her two children.

But those luxuries came at a price.

She and her family forfeited easy access to the farmers markets and other artisanal food makers she’d been in culinary-love with.

In her new uptown world, the food access severely narrowed. The Harlem-based Fairway isn’t in her neighborhood as New Yorkers define it and carries virtually nothing in the way of local food. There are bodegas and grocery stores within walking distance but their emphasis is on tropical fruits and vegetables, not bad, but definitely not local.

There are occasional farmer's markets but only in the summer season and limited selection. And there is no local dairy products to be had anywhere nearby, according to Lauren.

Farmigo Food Dreams

Her introduction to Farmigo was like stepping through the looking glass to good food in her Harlem neighborhood. Lauren saw "Farmigo Creates People Powered Farmers Markets" online. They empower Champions to create their own, unique food community, connecting local farms to the people in the same geographic area.

The very idea that Farmigo provides a path to community-oriented food systems aligned with Lauren’s dream of getting fresh food to her family and neighbors.

With Farmigo, she could essentially leapfrog the existing food chain (such as it was) to bring fresh AND locally grown food straight to her neighborhood.

In her uncompromising, lifelong quest to connect farms to people and to secure the freshest, tastiest food, she explains, “Farmigo gives me the chance to especially help people who don’t have ready access to the locally grown ingredients I’ve been using throughout my culinary career. “ And she loves the fact that Farmigo is a way to give farms a new steady outlet for business.

Her instincts whispered that her culinary entrepreneurship could blossom with Farmigo’s collaborative platform.

Farmigo provides all the tools and support Lauren needs to be a successful Champion, a recognized leader and entrepreneur who continues to build her own local Farmigo food business in just a few hours a week.

Farmigo Members access a cornucopia of food found at traditional farmers markets with the selections conveniently provided online.

The weekly food pick-ups provide the community experience of the greenmarket where members exchange recipes, wellness tips and food chat.

As a Farmigo member, there is no fee and no minimum; there is the flexibility to maintain a standing order or revise each week or skip -- all of which allows members to customize their weekly purchases which are delivered bagged up, labeled and ready to go.

“One of the greatest benefit to members is the convenience and reliability of getting their orders customized to their lifestyle and budgets,” explains Lauren.

Farmigo Food Helps Build Community

“The greatest reward Farmigo offers me is that of truly connecting better to my neighborhood,” Lauren said with firm satisfaction.

Farmigo not only provides a reliable, easy connection to fresh food but it’s a direct link to her community.

Lauren’s quiet, determined dedication to bring homegrown edibles to a community with scarce resources has created an oasis where food is the cornerstone.

She describes how the food makes her neighborhood a more vibrant, close-knit community. “This has been a good way to engage with neighbors in a very positive way.”