Andrea J. Carbine

Director, Food Enterprise Planning

 

Andrea J. Carbine is an entrepreneur, chef, and consultant working in food for over twenty years. She has led teams and organizations of all scales in both the non-profit and for-profit food space. For her work, she was recognized with two James Beard nominations, a Local Hero award (Edible Magazine), and a Women of Excellence Award for Entrepreneurship. During her culinary career, she launched, operated, scaled, and sold her own entrepreneurial ventures, including multiple restaurants and a branded CPG product.

For over 15 years as an East Coast chef and consultant, she was recognized for her active role in supporting and facilitating the local food economy and farm-to-table restaurant movements. She assumed a leadership role in developing local crop buying programs and distribution networks and provided funding and support to local value chain development amongst regional producers, fisheries, and ranchers.

In 2017, she supported the development and launch of one of the first national brands of shared kitchen and incubation facilities for entrepreneurs. That work provided hands-on experience in designing and developing a multimillion-dollar venture.

Today, she leads food enterprise and infrastructure projects for organizations, drawing on deep experience in the operation and management of shared kitchens, incubation and acceleration programs, restaurant and hospitality ventures, and supply chain resources in communities across the country. These experiences make Andrea an  exceptional strategist and consultant to food companies. She currently resides in the Midwest with her family.

 

 

 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)