Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Affiliations
Certification
Kitchen Alchemy, Grand Parenting, Culture Exposure, and Nature Communing
Languages
Timeline

Matthew Hanson

Slaton,TX

Summary

Passionate systems-thinking servant leader with a focus on collaboration and inclusion creating real food and ecological systems change through resourcefully increasing equitable access to nutritious and healthy food along waste reduction and responsible environmental processes. With over two decades of work in various agriculture and social justice capacities, I believe a more equitable, diverse, and self-sufficient environmental and food system is vital to the health and economic viability of every community. Through sustainable agriculture and food production and promoting resilient and localized food systems it is my mission to help promote stronger food security in my community. Ultimately I seek to bring about greater social and environmental change through partnership with others whose vision and purpose align to create a collective for good. I have many agricultural connections throughout the State of Texas, and I attend several conferences related to sustainability, eco-agriculture and marketing annually.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Produce Clerk

United Stores
08.2021 - Current
  • Maintain produce inventory through stocking and removing culls.

Founder and Owner

Farmer Matt’s Food Co
02.2020 - Current
  • Manage all aspects of a small value-added food manufacturing business, including marketing, budgeting, recipe creation, processing, and sales.
  • I create small-batch fermented food products and condiments, including hot sauces, spicy mustard, and pepper relishes, and fermented vegetables, all sourced from local regenerative and sustainable farming operations, along with the occasional rescue and surplus ingredients.

Farm Manager

Emerald Farm, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts
02.2018 - 01.2020
  • Managed all aspects of our tropical organic fruit and vegetable production, including a cow and calf, cacao, vanilla, bees and honey, value-added products, cut flowers, and ornamental landscape plant material which is all open for guest tours and is utilized by the resorts
  • Supervised the careful stewardship of our surrounding forty acres of forested areas and led a staff of 15 team members.
  • Worked closely with employees to improve practices, techniques and safety choices, optimizing performance and minimizing waste.
  • Coordinated all purchases and maintenance of supplies and equipment for farm use.
  • Branched farm out into new areas by adding tours, special events and customer activities.
  • Occasionally assisted with landscaping ideas and implementation on the resort’s property.
  • Implemented composting operation utilizing recovered waste resources from both resorts.

Growing Operation Manager

Alldredge Gardens
09.2015 - 01.2018
  • Oversaw the growing operations for an independent nursery in Midland, TX.
  • Managed a staff of 12 individuals that assisted in the production of annual and perennial plant material, shrubs, and trees for both wholesale and retail sales and managed all purchasing of seeds and starting plant material along with supplies and tools needed for our growing operations.
  • Also managed and maintained the retail, production, and growing facilities which included 17 total greenhouses of differing sizes.
  • Implemented a vegetable farming operation that supplied our on-site café, daily farm stand, and monthly farmer’s markets.
  • Created and met seasonal production goals for wholesale and retail sales.
  • Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines, which included learning Spanish.

Farmer and Owner

Wholistic Gardens
04.2007 - 01.2018
  • Personal Farm business growing diversified vegetables, 60 fruit trees, and bees on approximately 2.5 acres.
  • I used sustainable and biodynamic agricultural methods only.
  • I marketed my produce locally to several restaurants, sold at the Midland Downtown Farmers’ Market, operated a small CSA for a brief period, and donated to the Jubilee Center of Midland.
  • Provided mentorship and training to seasonal temporary apprentices that helped me plant, harvest, and all other farming tasks.

Manager

Wishbone Gardens
12.2013 - 09.2015
  • Managed a multi-million-dollar facility and farm for the enjoyment and personal use of two local families.
  • Planned the design and production of diversified sustainably raised vegetables, fruit, eggs, and honey and sold some produce to 3 local restaurants and supplied two local food outreach organizations, Midland Soup Kitchen Ministries and the Jubilee Center.
  • I was also charged with caring for our small flock of laying hens and our mating pair of sheep.

Greenhouse Manager

Spectrum Solutions
07.2012 - 11.2013
  • Spectrum Solutions is a local non-profit that provides residential and vocational assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Supervised 3 full-time and 4 part-time employees, which included the individuals we served, in the production and sales of hydroponic tomatoes in two greenhouses in an overall effort to build vocational skills and as an income generator for the organization.
  • We also produced varying vegetables in a 30‘x40’ garden and sold our tomatoes and veggies to many local restaurants and health food stores, at the Midland Downtown Farmers’ Market, along with supplying our 13 residential homes and two soup kitchens, the Jubilee Center of Midland, and the West Texas Food Bank.
  • Inspected nursery and all equipment for signs of disrepair and coordinated repairs and replacements.
  • Closely managed budget to reduce waste and improve overall program efficiency.

Founder and Director

Midland Downtown Farmers’ Market
10.2007 - 10.2013
  • Directed and coordinated all activities related to the market including, but not limited to, vendor relations, media, government and public relations, marketing and promotions, etc.
  • Created organization's mission and vision statements and developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial and consistent growth.
  • Along with providing weekly direction, I established the market’s 501c3 non-profit status.
  • MDFM is weekly farmers’ market that consists of roughly 50 vendors from West Texas and New Mexico varying from produce, meats, honey, baked goods, ready-to-eat foods, body care products, arts and crafts, and more.

Vitamin Manager

Natural Grocers
02.2011 - 02.2012
  • Managed purchasing of supplements, responsible inventory maintenance, supervision of staff within vitamin department, and assisted with overall store supervision as a MOD.
  • Helped countless customers make healthy supplement and nutritional decisions through health education access.

Customer Service

Natural Foods Market
01.2007 - 01.2009
  • Assisted customers make healthy supplement and nutritional decisions through health education access and assist other departments as needed.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Interdisciplinary Studies

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
05.2021

Area of Concentration - Sustainable Food Systems

Skills

  • Equitable Community Food Systems and Environmental Activism; Non-Profit and Community Organizing; Relationship and Connection Building; Customer Satisfaction; Servant Leadership
  • Organic Fruit and Vegetable Production and Sustainable Agriculture; Greenhouse Production and Maintenance; Ornamental Horticulture and Landscaping; Hydroponics
  • Value-Added Food Production, Preservation, and Fermentation; Natural Health and Nutritional Supplementation and Coaching

Affiliations

East Lubbock Optimist Club - Board Member

NAACP of Lubbock, TX

Certification

Texas Food Safety Manager - Exp. 05/2027

Kitchen Alchemy, Grand Parenting, Culture Exposure, and Nature Communing

I love feeding my family and friends simple and unique foods sourced from our garden along with traveling and exploring the natural and cultural diversity of our mystical existence.

Languages

Spanish
Limited Working

Timeline

Produce Clerk - United Stores
08.2021 - Current
Founder and Owner - Farmer Matt’s Food Co
02.2020 - Current
Farm Manager - Emerald Farm, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts
02.2018 - 01.2020
Growing Operation Manager - Alldredge Gardens
09.2015 - 01.2018
Manager - Wishbone Gardens
12.2013 - 09.2015
Greenhouse Manager - Spectrum Solutions
07.2012 - 11.2013
Vitamin Manager - Natural Grocers
02.2011 - 02.2012
Founder and Director - Midland Downtown Farmers’ Market
10.2007 - 10.2013
Farmer and Owner - Wholistic Gardens
04.2007 - 01.2018
Customer Service - Natural Foods Market
01.2007 - 01.2009
University of Massachusetts Amherst - Bachelor of Science, Interdisciplinary Studies

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Matthew Hanson