In this episode we had a very pleasant conversation with Farmer Lee Jones! We had an absolute blast talking with him, not just about produce, but life in general. We had the opportunity to not only learn about The Chef’s Garden, but also about the farm and his family’s history, as well as talked about relationships, which was a beautiful reminder of what’s really important in life. He is a very warm, friendly person and we had a great time listening to his stories. Farmer Lee Jones is the man responsible for running The Chef’s Garden, a 300 acre farm well-known for their hand-harvested, picked-to-order produce delivered overnight to acclaimed chefs worldwide. In addition to overseeing his family’s Huron, Ohio farm, he is also the chairman for the Culinary Vegetable Institute, one of the world’s most well-respected vegetable research facilities, also located on the property. His gardening philosophy is all about practicing sustainable, old-world farming techniques; avoiding the use of all pesticides and chemicals, emphasizing soil health, and all in all, “growing vegetables slowly and gently, in full accord with nature.” Farmer Lee Jones is also a highly sought-after speaker and expert on sustainable agriculture, who has presented at a number of national and international conferences and seminars, including the ACF National Convention, the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone Flavor Summit, and the Women Chefs and Restauranteurs National Conference. He is a James Beard Award winner, serves on the boards for a variety of chef-centric magazines, and was the first farmer to ever judge Food Network’s Iron Chef America, as well as appearing on Food Network Star, Restaurant: Impossible, and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
