More than farming

“I thought I would conquer the world with my voice. Instead, I’m doing it with our chili peppers”

Slavena Rodinova, CEO Hot Farm, Strashimirovo (Bulgaria) When Slavena Rodinova grew up on her parents’ farm in Strashimirovo, she never thought she would do anything in agriculture. Helping out with tending to the family’s crops, mostly vegetables, Slavena dreamed of a career as a singer. It wasn’t until she came back to the farm […]

“I see it as my mission to bring the farm closer to the consumer.”

Mariëlle Schalk, Hoogstraten (Belgium) Mariëlle Schalk and her family run ‘t Kakelhof in the Belgian village of Meer, near the border with the Netherlands. The farm specializes in laying hens and has a grading plant where its own eggs are graded for sale. Those eggs, along with other local produce from fellow local farmers, are […]

“I love seeing women empowered to put their face on their business”

Mary Heffernan, Five Marys Farm, California (USA) About a decade ago, Mary Heffernan left her life in the city behind to go back to her farming roots and start a ranch. Named after her and her daughters, Five Marys Farm raises beef, pork and lamb. An entrepreneur before becoming a rancher, Mary quickly decided […]