About Us - Seasonal Roots

Happier, healthier homes and communities start here.

In 2011, Seasonal Roots began uniting people in Virginia and Maryland with local farmers and artisans to cultivate a community that not only eats better, but lives better too.

We believe there’s power in our interconnectedness. Unlike a national corporation, our partners and team members live in, and are committed to, the neighborhoods we serve. Together, we share a collective vision of making better food options accessible to everyone. This makes a positive impact on our local economy, the global environment, and our individual quality of life.

We’re excited that our community continues to grow and that more people are understanding the benefits of eating seasonally. Whether you’re a household of one, many, or somewhere in between, we invite you to join us and taste the difference of eating seasonally.

Join Our Community

Our Team

Duane Slyder

• Founder •

Our founder, Duane Slyder, grew up in rural Nebraska and Virginia, helping to raise cattle and horses, and grow produce in his family’s garden. Later, as a husband and father living in the suburbs, Duane was curious about where the food he fed his family came from. He learned that most grocery store produce is shipped in from far away – selected for high yield and long shelf life, not for flavor or nutrition.

Duane recognized an opportunity to support local farmers using sustainable practices, as well as enjoy better tasting, more nutritious food. His vision came to life by creating an online farmers market offering fresh, local produce and unique artisan goods that we know today as Seasonal Roots.

Duane developed a business model that isn’t just good for our local farmers and artisans, but for us, as a community. By supporting people who have dedicated their lives to growing the most flavorful, nutrient-dense produce and humanely raising happy, healthy animals for meat, eggs, and dairy, we all benefit.

While food is the primary focus of Seasonal Roots, Duane believes that people are – and always will be – the heart of Seasonal Roots.

Emily Gannon

• Inventory Coordinator •

Emily Gannon, our Inventory Coordinator, has worked for Seasonal Roots for 6 months, and is passionate about supporting small producers and farmers who are committed to sustainable farming & land-use practices. When she is not at the hub packing orders and counting boxes, she can be found at The Visual Arts Center, making handmade ceramics & pottery.

Isabella Clouse

• Marketing & Media Strategist •

Isabella Clouse, our Marketing & Media Strategist, loves working for Seasonal Roots because she’s passionate about supporting the local community. She enjoys receiving fresh nutritious produce every week and trying new recipes. When not promoting all things seasonal, Isabella can be found exploring the city for new places to try.

Marie Foley

• Community Partnership Coordinator •

Marie Foley, our Community Partnership Coordinator, makes sure no veggie goes to waste — she’s developed a donation program partnering with local nonprofits, food banks, and compassionate individuals to get our weekly surplus of fresh produce into the hands of food-insecure folks in the community who need it most. She loves maintaining great relationships with our kind, dedicated partners, and taking home great ingredients to cook healthy vegetarian meals. When not helping out at the Hub, Marie plays music, writes for philosophical journals, and translates poetry from French.

Nathan Koch

• Supply Chain Manager •

Nathan Koch, our Supply Chain Manager, has worked for Seasonal Roots for nearly 7 years. During his time at Seasonal Roots, he’s worked on the line, packed the boxes, and driven the trucks. Now he enjoys working to find the freshest produce and artisan goods to feature in the market every weekend. When he’s not building the menu, Nathan can be found playing the saxophone, at soccer practice or spending time with his family.

Trey Dalton

• Warehouse Coordinator & Transportation Manager •

Trey Dalton, our Warehouse Coordinator & Transportation Manager, has worked for Seasonal Roots since the beginning, and enjoys working with local farmers and artisans to help distribute their products into the community. He uses his access to fresh local produce in helping to perfect his homemade seasonal curries. When not helping to maintain the logistics of day to day operations at the hub, Trey can be found touring and playing shows with his band, hanging out with his partner and pets, and playing the dorkiest of games.

Gair Ayers

• Director of Teams •

Gair Ayers, our Director of Teams for the Greater Richmond Area, has worked for Seasonal Roots since 2016 and before that was a customer for many years. She has worked as both a Market Manager and Area Manager before taking on her current role. When she’s not overseeing our delivery teams, she enjoys hiking, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Glenn Fellman

• Director of Teams •

Glenn Fellman, our Maryland Director of Teams, has worked for Seasonal Roots since June 2021. He manages our expansion into Maryland, leveraging his community connections to create fundraisers and business partnerships that promote growth. When not helping to raise awareness of the benefits of eating locally, Glenn can be found hunting for treasure at garage sales and storage unit auctions.

Tami Farinholt

• Director of Teams •

Tami is our Director of Teams, who oversees the Hampton Roads region. With four years of experience, Tami began as a loyal customer before assuming roles as Market Manager, Area Manager, and now Director of Teams. She coordinates all aspects of delivery and membership recruitment in the Hampton Roads Region. As a lifelong resident, Tami’s commitment to her community and local food systems is unwavering. Beyond her role at Seasonal Roots, she actively works to enhance the quality of life through initiatives such as preserving green spaces. You also might find her supporting her husband’s local comic shop and exploring all things art, outdoors, and food with her family.

The Hub Hustle

This is where the magic happens, folks. The Hub is our central packing facility where all the produce and goods of our local farmers and artisans converge. Needless to say, it’s a busy place! Once everything arrives, our packers get to work putting together weekly custom boxes of seasonal goodness for each and every one of our awesome members.