Buyers | Food Justice in Appalachia | West Virginia University

Farmers Market Buyers

Here is a snapshot representation of the spectrum of buyers Turnrow services. From small community grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants all the way up to institutional food service entities like hospitals and food banks- Turnrow works with buyers to identify their needs and match that with farmers at that scale and product variety.

The Wild Ramp, Grocer retailer, Huntington, WV

The Wild Ramp (Tri-State Local Foods, Inc.) is a year-round, non-profit farmers market based in Huntington, West Virginia, with a mission to grow and support a vibrant economy and community for local food, food products, and artisan goods.

Mountain People’s Coop, Grocer retailer, Morgantown, WV

Since 2020, The Public Market is a year-round, non-profit consignment farmer’s market and natural foods store opening in the heart of downtown Wheeling! We are a project of Grow Ohio Valley (GrowOV), a non-profit with a mission to build thriving community through food and a vision for regional food security.

The Public Market, Grocer retailer, Wheeling, WV

“Blue Ray Ranch is a unique 100 acre holistically-managed farm. Upon a visit to our farm, you enjoy a gobble greeting from our Royal Palm turkeys while our happy herd of goats welcome you with a baa! Gazing upon the rolling hills, you see a joyful flock of heritage chickens roaming freely across 10 acres of open land.” - Blue Ray Ranch

Butter It Up, Restaurant, Huntington, WV

Butter It Up is a Farm to table restaurant and cafe. Butter it up! is committed to serving you only the highest quality ingredients possible. We source all our eggs, meats, dairy, and vegetables as locally as possible from farms and growers.

The Station, Grocer and cafe, Fayetteville, WV

“We’ve been hard at work transforming The Station into your haven for handcrafted, small batch, eco-conscious, and sustainable delights. Stay tuned to find out what new curiosities and cuisine we have in store.” - The Station

Cathedral Cafe, Fayetteville, WV

“ Our philosophy is pretty simple; use as many local and seasonal ingredients to offer the best food we can. This is reflected in our daily specials and soups as well as our regular menus. When we got our wine license back in July 2016, it was important to me to support locally and as many independents as I can." - Cathedral Cafe

Pies and Pints Fayetteville, Restaurants, Fayetteville, WV

The original cornerstone location of the rapidly growing Pies and Pints family, Fayetteville boasts one of West Virginia’s great historic downtowns, complete with a red brick courthouse and storefront shopping.

Swift Level Fine Meats, Retail butcher shop, Lewisburg, WV

Swift Level Fine Meats is providing the Greenbrier Valley with the highest quality local meats. Having been born into the cattle business, Jennifer “Tootie” Jones spent a lifetime working with cattle which came naturally to her. Re-learning how to build soils, forages and give to the land was essential. Creating a quality, fat, all grass finished beef carcass is a bit of wizardry, art, and just plain paying attention to nature and how our cattle are responding. The outcomes are not as controlled as a grain finished carcass. Our dance with nature is the finite love affair that creates what you taste when you bite into our beef. Tootie started Swift Level and now her son, Everett is her business partner expanding and growing the prepared foods inspired by his travels and passion in the kitchen.

Blackwell’s Catering, Cafe and catering, Lewisburg, WV

“Blackwell's Catering is located downtown Lewisburg! We are a cafe that specializes in breakfast, lunch, pizza, daily breads, & pastries! We buy from several local farm cooperatives as well as individual farmers.” - Blackwell’s Catering

County Schools

Fayette County Schools : Starting in 2020 our partnership with Fayette County has grown to support their feeding programs and bring more fresh foods to the students of elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the county. See us featured on their WV Wednesday plates.

Wyoming County Schools : During the first few weeks and months of the Covid-19 Pandemic we were blessed to support Wyoming County as they adapted to a new feeding environment for their students with sac lunches and bus delivery throughout their region.

LEAP Food Hub and CSA Boxes, food access, Roanoke, VA

Local Environmental Agriculture Project Inc. (LEAP) is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2009, thanks to the work of Brent Cochran and other food-lovers in the Valley. Originally a project of the Roanoke Co+op, this group of people launched the Grandin Village Farmers Market in summer 2009. After only a short time, Brent and the Co+op recognized that an organization supporting markets and the local food system would quickly outgrow the scope of the Co-op, and LEAP was born as an independent organization. In 2010, LEAP expanded by launching the year-round West End FarmersMarket in partnership with the West End Center for Youth. LEAP builds community through sustainable agriculture.

Mountaineer Food Bank, Food access buyer, Gassaway, WV

Mountaineer Food Bank is located in Gassaway, WV. Our organization provides food and other household items to our emergency food network in 48 counties including programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, Backpack programs, senior programs and mobile pantries.

KEYS for Healthy Kids, Food access buyer

KEYS for Healthy Kids focuses on creating environments that support healthy habits and behaviors through policy, systems and environmental changes. Multiple programs statewide include: The School/Youth Garden Support Network (SYGSN) is a partnership program of KEYS 4 Healthy Kids and WVU Kanawha Extension developed to meet the needs of youth gardens in Kanawha County; instigating and help natural playgrounds for schools and childcare centers; Kidz Bite Back is a generation of youth are "biting back" against Big Fat Industries and Couch Potato Companies; Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Centers (NAP SACC) is a tool to improve nutrition and physical activity standards in child care settings; and so much more.

SNAP Ed Food Access, Food access buyer

SNAP-Ed is an evidence-based program that helps people lead healthier lives. SNAP-Ed teaches people using or eligible for SNAP about good nutrition and how to make their food dollars stretch further. SNAP-Ed participants also learn to be physically active. SNAP-Ed works by building partnerships with all types of community organizations. Communities have social marketing campaigns, hold nutrition education classes, and improve their policies, systems, and the environment of the community. West Virginia University Extension is the sole SNAP-Ed implementing agency. With multiple statewide partners, WV programs include the WV Kids Coupon program, giving low income children of all ages $4 in farmers market tokens and providing nutrition education and recipes; and increasing the capacity of WV farmers through token purchases. (US Department of Agriculture)

See more about WVU Extension in the main exhibition Community Food Justice section!

Food Lion - Local Goodness Program, Multiple locations

At Food Lion, sourcing local means bringing our neighbors the freshest homegrown and homemade flavors around, while also supporting growers and makers in the communities we serve. As you shop, look for our Local Goodness signs and tags to find the best products grown and made in your state. Through Local Goodness, you can show your love and pride for West Virginia and get produce and other local items grown and made right here in your state. Get the fresh-from-the-farm quality and taste with the convenience of simply stopping by your local Food Lion. Enjoy seasonal apples, peaches and more!