Texas Center for Local Food
Texas Center for Local Food
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About Us

Who We Are

We are a diverse community of farmers, ranchers, chefs, food artisans, distributors, teachers, students, researchers, and more. 

We share a common goal: to strengthen Texas’ food system by working together. When we collaborate, we all thrive.

What We Do

We provide technical support and market development resources to help small and mid-sized farms and ranches succeed. 

By boosting rural economies and expanding access to healthy food across Texas, we’re building a stronger, more sustainable food network. 

And we’d love for you to be part of it.

Our Values

We believe in integrity, creativity, grit, and inclusiveness—and we enjoy having fun along the way! 

We’re committed to hard work and a bright future for Texas-grown food.

A man stands in a field produce speaking to a group of children and other adults, trees and sunny skies behind him
A clutch of eggs nestled in a straw nest, sunshine streaming in
A variety of preserved goods on shelves, bundles of green onions in front
Bags of peaches behind barrels of green beans and red potatoes at a farmers market
An illustration of a tree, with six people under it picking fruit. On the right, the blocks they are standing on are all the same height, and two cannot reach the fruit. On the left, the blocks are all different heights, allowing everyone to reach the fruit. This represents equity and equality.

Equity in Action at TCLF

The Texas Center for Local Food’s Equity Action Plan outlines our deep and ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging across all areas of our work. 

Guided by specific goals and action steps, we prioritize the needs and voices of historically underserved communities, foster authentic relationships across Texas, and ensure our projects are driven by transparency, accessibility, and accountability.

Read the TCLF Equity Action Plan

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A person holding a huge leaf in front of their face, behind them an array of produce on a table on a sunny day
$243629

SNAP funds spent at farmers markets to date

400+

K-12 students engaged in local food and agriculture programming in 2024

47000

Community members reached through the Bastrop County Local Food Action Plan in print and social media

$49000

Funding received from AgMRC (Agricultural Marketing Resource Center) to support food system development

121

Classes taught in 2024 by our Farm-to-Kids Texas Education Specialist and Lead Educator

1257531

SNAP-eligible Texas reached through social marketing in 2024

7710

Texans who used SNAP to shop at our partners' farmers markets

$17963

Paid to Texas farmers and ranchers for their products and services in 2024

$98255

Paid to partner farm support organizations in 2024

1619

Total students enrolled in TXFED courses in 2024

18

Total amount of local farmers markets now accepting SNAP with our help

TCLF Collaborators

Meet Our Team

Board Members

Michelle Akindiya pictured smiling in a red hooded jumper holding leafy produce, a field of cops behind her

Michelle Akindiya

President
A picture of a smiling Sheri L. Smith holding a printed copy of the Bastrop County Local Food Action Plan

Sheri L. Smith

Vice President
Bethany Boggess Alcauter smiling in a yellow top, holding a small goat in a sunny outdoor setting

Bethany Boggess Alcauter

Secretary
Jose Aguirre in a professional headshot, smiling slightly and posed in front of a neutral background of a field

José Aguirre

Treasurer
A selfie picture of Yalanda G Henderson, smiling, wearing glasses, with water in the background

Yalanda G. Henderson

Director

Staff

A professional headshot of Sue Beckwith, who is wearing glasses and smiling warmly

Sue Beckwith

Executive Director
A headshot of a smiling AJ beard, who has dark curly hair and is wearing a blue jacket with sunflowers

AJ Beard

Incoming Executive Director
Katie Lavellee in a softly lit headshot, wearing a warm smile and flowery top, trees in the background.

Katie Lavallee

Farm Viability Advisor
Katie Tritsch smiling brightly in a professional headshot with natural lighting and a wooden background

Katie Tritsch

Local Food Coordinator
Fred Henderson in a professional headshot, looking directly at the camera while slightly smiling

Fred Henderson

Local Food Coordinator
Krista Alford in a clear headshot, smiling gently with a neutral grassy background

Krista Alford

Financial & Administrative Manager
Portrait of Gemma Castillo smiling outdoors during golden hour, with trees and an open field in the background.

Gemma Castillo

Local Food Coordinator

Advisors

Priscilla Hale smiling in a relaxed and confident headshot, taken outdoors with a grassy background

Priscilla Hale

Organization Development Consultant
Close up of Alan Jefferies in a smiling headshot, standing against a simple, neutral background.

Alan Jefferies

HR Consultant
Skip Connett outdoors in a natural setting wearing a blue hat, smiling in a casual portrait

Skip Connett

Advisor
A picture of Erin Flynn, taken from the side. She is smiling, and wearing a colorful pink and yellow shirt

Erin Flynn

Advisor
Feedback

What People Are Saying About TCLF

Carolina Mueller
“ Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) has been proud to partner with TCLF to connect farmers to valuable educational opportunities, both in person at our annual conference and online through the TXFED program.
Carolina Mueller TOFGA President
Robert Maggiani
“ There are a number of organizations in Texas that do great work in the local food systems space. Nobody does it better than TCLF. With their farmer-first focus and their list of resources/services available a little or no cost, they are tireless activists working for both economic justice and economic prosperity for the agriculture community here in Texas. We would all be better served if they had twice the staff!
Robert Maggiani NCAT ATTRA
Carolina Mueller
“ TCLF understands the unique needs of sustainable and organic farms and ranches as small businesses, and has created programs and resources designed to help them thrive.
Carolina Mueller TOFGA President