What is the CohereFoodLab

The Cohere Food Lab is where I am testing recipes for a project we will launch this spring featuring regenerative organic produce that is unique to Southeastern Pennsylvania along with some ingredients at the edge of the global food system inspired by my work with the Crop Trust and Food Forever. This will give us the opportunity to feature partners we love and our very own Maidencreek florals. We’re also working on Consumer Product Goods (CPGs) in the #CohereFoodLab such as repositioning Heirloma de Cana, Simply Good Jars, and receiving products to test such as Made In Stainless Steel Cookware.

Many of the concepts that drive sustainable practices in the food and agriculture spaces – regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, food as medicine, and zero waste – are difficult to understand. The first step for us is to develop practices and language internally so that as we create content and action through Cohere’s channels, and do it truthfully. As a team, we are working on a list of ten commitments to help guide our sustainable practices. What I hope is that I can help influence what is already a really progressive, thoughtful, amazing culture to one that is world-class in a place of mindful Leadership.

One way we’re moving the needle on this mission is Lunch & Learns, a practice every Wednesday where we discuss complicated topics around sustainability over family-style meals with the team, clients, and partners. We invite people to join!

• The Viaduct is our new venue under the Rail Park in Philadelphia that we dedicated to emerging voices in food and agriculture. We are hosting popup events on a regular basis dedicated to uniting stakeholders who share values in diversifying the culinary landscape and sustainable practices
• We are regularly working with The Crop Trust and Food Forever 2020 whose mission is preserving global crop diversity to host global events around the world
• Our partnership with the Rodale Institute, the leading authority on organic agriculture in the country, located right in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
• And the many plant-based concepts we work with on a regular basis such as HipCityVeg

The hero of the winter for me has been the scarlet turnip. It is not as earthy as other turnips or rutabagas. It has a subtle rosy flesh with a vibrant pink outside. It kind of looks like a Chioggia beet. It’s both delicious shaved raw in a salad as we had in our family meal this week but also great roasted with a little bit of caramelization on the outside. It could be added to any dish as an accessory but it’s also good enough to stand alone. It’s from Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op and I’ve seen it at Mom’s Market and some farmer’s markets but only a few people have been carrying it. It’s great.