Food Connects is excited to welcome Kristen Thompson to the team as its Marketing Coordinator. Kristen will work closely with the organization’s Food Hub to improve the program’s communications and increase the promotion of local farmers and food producers.

Kristen joined the team in early March. Prior to joining the Food Connects, Kristen held positions at Community Garden Connections and the Alliance for Youth Climate Leadership, both located in Keene, NH.

We are thrilled to have her on the team and are excited to share more about her!

What sparked your interest in Food Connects, and why are you excited to be here?

I was first drawn to Food Connects because of the organization’s focus on transforming local and regional food systems. While working on my master’s at Antioch University in Keene, NH, I researched the impacts of consolidation in the food system. I became very concerned by how fragile our industrial food system has become and how damaging big agri-food businesses are to people and the planet. I was inspired by Food Connects’ work to support small to mid-sized local and regional food producers and educate and invigorate the next generation of growers, makers, and eaters in our region. I’m excited to join Food Connects’ fantastic team as we work together to build power and engagement in community food systems through our Food Hub and Farm to School programs.

Why is the local food movement important to you?

To me, the local food movement is about redistributing power back to communities and small businesses so that, together, we can work to build a network of resilient and thriving local food systems that nurture workers, families, communities, and the planet.

What do you see for the future of FC and what you will do here? What are your hopes/dreams for this position?

Food Connects is a fast-growing and evolving organization that provides an essential link between many networks, collaborations, stakeholders, ideas, and resources in our region. I see Food Connects as a vital connector and incubator for innovation in the coming years, as demonstrated by initiatives like Vermont Way Foods, which will help open new avenues for Vermont farmers and food producers. I’m excited to amplify the stories of Food Connects and our students, farmers, makers, and small businesses working together to build a better food future. I look forward to expanding our marketing and communications capacity and strategy as we continue to grow our work and amplify the voices of our partners.

How will your previous experience impact your work at Food Connects, and what unique perspectives do you bring to the organization?

I have a background in marketing and outreach for small, fast-growing non-profits–including entrepreneurial non-profits like our Food Hub. This experience has given me a unique perspective on the research, strategy, big thinking, and experimentation that goes into growing meaningful and effective communications strategies and campaigns. The most important lesson I’ve learned in marketing is the power of relationships. If I’m reaching out to a potential or existing partner, taking the time to understand what they have been doing and showing a genuine interest in their work and our common goals and aspirations will be more meaningful and more effective.

I also bring a background in systems theory, through which I’ve learned the importance of narrative and storytelling in building broad support for big changes. What Food Connects is doing is different, and it’s also complex! The more we can draw the threads of our different work together and identify the themes and stories that underpin them, the better we can connect with current and future partners and the community.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I spend a few hours at Tracie’s Community Farm each week, and I’m writing a series of fantasy novels!

What is your favorite or least favorite food?

Berries! I could eat them all day. Working on farms and getting to eat them freshly picked has sealed the deal for me. Plus, they’re perennials, so they come back year after year and support healthy soils.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An artist! I loved drawing, painting, and making videos when I was a kid, which carries into today. My journey to communications and marketing work began in high school and college with my interest in art as a tool for communication. I’m excited to put my art and design skills into graphic design work for our Marketing Team.

What fictional place would you most like to visit?

Middle Earth! I’d love to go on a road trip to Hobbiton, Tom Bombadil’s house (ideally without being strangled by a willow tree on the way), Rivendell, Beorn’s house, Lothlórien, and Fangorn Forest.