By Caroline Croland
Lauren Cox’s passion for food started at home.
Growing up in a food-centric family, food was always a point of connection to culture and identity.
“There's a deep mutual respect between a chef that supports a farm and the farmer that sees what they grew transformed into something really beautiful and thoughtful on a plate,” said Lauren, Georgia Organics’ Organic Procurement Coordinator who is leading the new Farmer Champion campaign.
As an adult, Lauren has worked in restaurants and studied communications and food studies abroad, but what particularly influences her work is her seven years of working on farms.
“I think being part of a farm that sold predominantly to restaurants informs everything I do here,” she said. “And just being a farmer in general, thinking in the way of: what would help my bottom line if I were still farming? What do I want for my farm? What gives me inspiration to continue doing the hard work of growing food?”
For Lauren, that inspiration comes from the passionate, hardworking people that she encounters in both industries.
“It’s the relationships you have with people that are doing equally hard work,” she said. “I think of the work which happens in kitchens and restaurants where you're working 60-65 hour weeks. You're always standing, you're sweating. I mean there are so many physical similarities to farming and the work in a kitchen. There is a lot off common ground and respect there. And so I think that those types of relationships are really inspiring.”
Those deep connections to both industries and passion for good food are evident to those who work with Lauren.
Susan Shaw of Hickory Hill Farms in Athens enjoys the energy and experience that Lauren brings to her role.
“She is someone who always excited,” Susan said. “She believes wholeheartedly in the importance of organics. She has been in the industry a long time and those connections are evident in her work.”
Susan appreciates what those connections bring to her business.
“As an Athens based farm, the idea of working with Atlanta restaurants seemed out of reach for us, we would image having to do a four-hour round trip commute to set up meetings and develop those relationships,” she said. “Working with Lauren has allowed us to start sourcing to Atlanta restaurants. It’s been very beneficial.”
Caroline Croland is the Fundraising Coordinator at Georgia Organics. Contact her at carolinec@georgiaorganics.org.