Another New Farmer Project participant with a niche product is Russ Testa of Your Chef’s Table farm in Brookeville. Testa graduated from culinary school in 2012 and did part-time stints as a personal chef. Frustrated over the inability to find locally grown ingredients for clients, he started his own farm, joining the New Farmer Project in 2014. Eager to connect farming with cooking, Testa came up with the idea of meal kits, made with items he raises on his farm. Like the popular Blue Apron or HelloFresh meal delivery services, Testa’s kits include preportioned packages of ingredients—such as chicken, Brussels sprouts, kale, chard, bok choy—and a recipe. Your Chef’s Table farm meal kits and produce are available at the Brookeville Beer Farm Market, Olney Farmers & Artists Market, St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring and at Testa’s on-farm market. 19715 Zion Road, Brookeville, 202-236-4085, yourchefstable.net
PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA
BUTLER’S PHOTO COURTESY; APRICOTS FILE PHOTO
THE MEAL-KIT FARMER
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