Aldan native Charisse McGill, who has seen success with her French Toast Bites sold through her company Lokal Artisan Foods, is now the new executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The national nonprofit advocates on behalf of 9,000 farmers’ markets to strengthen their place in the community.

McGill ran the Lansdale Farmers Market for six years and is a big booster for farmers’ markets.

“Agriculture is culture, and farmers’ markets are so much more than just tents with fruit,” she said. “They build economic sustainability and access to nutritious foods to communities across the country.”

McGill, 41, has reached a point where her business is running smoothly thanks to longtime managers and employees, allowing her to expand into her farmers market duties.

The coalition needed a force like McGill to get the message out about the work it is doing “because they’re a little humble,” she said.

Policies like accepting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) at farmers’ markets should be “shouted from the mountaintops,” she said.

McGill also hopes to inspire others to participate and to open doors for BIPOC, female, and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.

Read more about Charisse McGill and the Farmers Market Coalition in The Philadelphia Inquirer.