The Seed Was Planted…
From Humble Beginnings
In 2002, after seeing a plea from the Flemington Area FoodPantry requesting that local gardeners donate surplus produce, Chip Paillex and his daughter Kyra, who was four years old at the time, happily gave the excess vegetables they cultivated from their family garden to the food pantry. That year Chip donated 120 pounds of fresh produce from his home garden to the food pantry.
When Chip saw the need for fresh fruits and vegetables at local food pantries, he became inspired to grow more produce to feed the hungry. Today, Grow-a-Row is a thriving 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 423 acres over four farm locations that donates farm fresh produce to feeding organizations across the nation and educates people facing food insecurity by teaching them how to eat healthy. In addition, we are a Volunteer Destination Center with more than 10,000 volunteers harvesting on the farm each year.
![Chip Kyra 2002](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chip-Kyra-2002.jpeg)
![Sun Art](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sun-Art.png)
![10 2 11 PVO green beans rotated e1718121493304](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/10-2-11-PVO-green-beans-rotated-e1718121493304.jpg)
![Young Learner on the Farm](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Young-Learner-on-the-Farm.jpg)
![Cloud Art](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cloud-Art.png)
We believe EVERYONE should have access to fresh food for healthy living.
![Cloud](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cloud.png)
![Farm](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Farm.png)
Meet the Team.
Board of Trustees
![Juliana Drinane LI](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Juliana-Drinane-LI.jpg)
Juliana Drinane
Chair
![Greg Johnson](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Greg-Johnson.jpg)
Gregory Johnson
Vice Chair
![Melody Culton LI](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Melody-Culton-LI.jpg)
Melody Culton
Secretary
![Ron Kazel](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ron-Kazel.jpg)
Ron Kazel
Treasurer
![Chip](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chip-Paillex.jpg)
Chip Paillex
Trustee
![Kristin Berlew Final Headshot](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kristin-Berlew-Final-Headshot.jpg)
Kristin Berlew
Trustee
![Fabian Rojas Valley](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fabian-Rojas-Valley.jpg)
Fabian Rojas
Trustee
![Michael Beneduce](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Michael-Beneduce.jpg)
Mike Beneduce
Trustee
![Philippe Beekman](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Philippe-Beekman.jpg)
Phil Beekman
Trustee
![Jerry Walker](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jerry-Walker.jpg)
Jerry Walker
Trustee
![Paige Meade Gonzalez](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Paige-Meade-Gonzalez.jpg)
Paige Meade-Gonzales
Trustee
![Crystal Rose LI](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Crystal-Rose-LI.jpg)
Crystal Rose
Trustee
![tractor with farm scene](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tractor-with-farm-scene.png)
Meet our Staff.
Staff
President & Founder
Chief Financial Officer
VP of Programming & Operations
Sr. Director of Development & Marketing
Director of Farm Management Operations
Director of Facilities, Crop Production & Distribution
Sr. Manager of Development & Marketing
Manager of CSR Relations
Field Team & Special Projects Manager
Volunteer & Database Manager
Executive Chef & Programming Manager
Corporate Relations Manager
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Finance & Administrative Manager
Social Media Specialist & Programming Associate
Programming Associate – Education and Volunteers
Fruit & Vegetable Technician
Fruit & Vegetable Technician
Equipment Operator & Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Equipment Operator & Fruit & Vegetable Technician
![Farmer with Produce Over Farm Sketch](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Farmer-with-Produce-Over-Farm-Sketch.png)
Equipment Operator & Fruit & Vegetable Technician
Fruit & Vegetable Technician
Programming Associate – Volunteers
Fruit & Vegetable Technician
Custodian
Programming Associate – Education and Volunteers
Trust & Transparency
America’s Grow-a-Row Awards.
Don’t take our word for it…see the many organizations who have recognized our work.
![CNN Heroes Logo](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CNN-Heroes-Logo.webp)
![Ford Go Further Logo](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ford-Go-Further-Logo.webp)
![TEDx Logo](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TEDx-Logo.webp)
![Farm Landscape](https://americasgrowarow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Farm-Landscape.png)