Former Lansdale Farmers Market Manager Named Head of National Farmers Market Coalition

Tony Di Domizio | North Penn Now•

It has become a “full-circle moment” for former Lansdale Farmers’ Market manager Charisse McGill, now that she is leading the national Farmers Market Coalition as its first Black female executive director, according to 6abc.com.

According to the report, McGill, who created French Toast Bites through her company, Lokal Artisan Foods, credits the Lansdale Farmers’ Market with changing her life for the better. She told 6abc she started her business from all the knowledge gained during her seven years with the Lansdale Farmers’ Market.

“French Toast Bites has grown in staff, revenue. Now, I have the opportunity to give back to the organization where I got my start," she told 6abc.

According to the report, Farmers Market Coalition is a nonprofit that serves and supports more than 8,000 farmers markets across the country.

“I am honored to lead an organization dedicated to serving and supporting local farmers markets across the country,” McGill told The Delaware County Daily Times. “Together we’ll blaze new paths, sow seeds of change, and harvest a brighter future for farmers, consumers and communities.”

McGill began selling her French Toast Bites in 2018 at the Philadelphia holiday market, according to 6abc, and turned that product into a beer, coffee, and spice blend, and has expanded to five locations in five years. Her French Toast Bites can be found at the Cherry Street Pier and the Spruce Street Harbor Park in the summer, according to the Delco Daily Times.

Back in March, the 76ers selected Lokal Artisan Foods out of more than 400 applicants as the recipient of its “Buy Black Program.” This means McGill’s food and drinks will be sold at concessions and she now has marketing opportunities with the basketball team, per the report.

The news of McGill’s success comes ahead of the 24^thannual Farmers Market Week from Aug. 6-12, which celebrates the vital influence farmers’ markets play not only in the local community food system, but also nationwide.