New farmers – younger and older – share values that can be summed up by Elliot Coleman who, as advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, author, farmer, and pioneer of innovation, advocates “Real farming, real food.” A search for authenticity, honesty, and transparency is at the core of these values, acknowledging “nature’s impeccable design,” a willingness to get down in the dirt, and a desire to share their stories through a variety of channels, sparking innovation and inspiration while producing delicious, nutritious, healthy, and yes, beautiful things.

By Darryl Benjamin