🚀 Join CAIC to celebrate Delmarva agriculture at Producers Unveiled 2024! Register now. 🌱📈

en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
f3tech-top
cyberag-top

Producer Spotlight: Meet Andrea Davis-Cetina of Quarter Acre Farm

Get to know Andrea Davis-Cetina! An organic farmer and value-added producer, she’ll be CAIC’s April 17 Producers Unveiled keynote speaker.


Davis-Cetina is the founder and co-owner of Quarter Acre Farm, where she grows produce including organic garlic, peppers, tomatillos, heirloom tomatoes, and sweet potatoes, along with vegetable seedlings. She’s also a value-added producer, selling her homemade pico de gallo and guacamole at area farmers markets.

Here are four facts to know about Davis-Cetina. To learn more about her experience as a farmer and value-added producer, grab your free Producers Unveiled ticket! 

 

1. Quarter Acre Farm hasn’t always been located in Maryland

 

Though Quarter Acre Farm is currently based in Greensboro, Maryland, it began in Sonoma, California on a quarter acre of land in the spring of 2008. Over the years, it’s grown in size and changed locations several times before arriving at its current 12-acre property, less than an acre of which is under production. Quarter Acre Farm has been certified organic through CCOF since 2010, and they strive to be regenerative and sustainable in everything that they do.

 

2. Davis-Cetina has worked in agriculture for more than 20 years

 

Davis-Cetina earned a B.A. in sustainable agriculture from Hampshire College, with a focus on local food systems. Since graduating and establishing Quarter Acre Farm, she’s worked to help improve local food systems and access to farming knowledge. This included a radio show, “Sustainable Growing with Quarter Acre Farm,” that she hosted for five years on KSVY 91.3 FM. Recently, Davis-Cetina also completed levels 2 and 3 of the Future Harvest Beginning Farmer Training Program, as well as the second and first years of Farm Credit’s AgBiz Master’s Program.

3. She’s actively involved in the farming community 

 

Over the years, Davis-Cetina has been a member of a number of farmer organizations. Currently, she sits on the CCOF board of directors, where she represents the at-large chapter. You might also remember her as one of the partners in Maryland Food Bank’s Farm to Food Bank initiative, which (as detailed in a previous blog post) aims to combat both hunger and food insecurity. Back in September, Quarter Acre Farm hosted a cherry tomato gleaning. Volunteers picked any ripe tomatoes they found, disposed of rotten ones, and left the green, still-growing ones on the vine. Afterwards, almost all of the 120 pounds of tomatoes picked went to a local nonprofit. 

4. Her breakfast tacos are out of this world 

 

Take it from the CAIC team: Quarter Acre Farm’s breakfast tacos are phenomenal! Cooked to order with fresh eggs, along with guacamole and pico de gallo made with ingredients grown on the farm, they make for a very tasty value-added product. You can order them on Saturdays from April to December at the Easton Farmers Market.  

 

 

Hear from Andrea and other inspiring Delmarva farmers at Producers Unveiled on April 17! There are a few (free) tickets left, so make sure to register today.

STAY IN TOUCH

Want to stay up to date with the latest news from Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center? Subscribe to our e-newsletter! We share news and updates once a month related to the CAIC ecosystem. 

MINI-GRANTs

Mini-Grants up to $5,000 are available for:
– Market Research and Validation of Target Market
– Customer Acquisition
– Product Development Initiatives
– Food Safety Classes
Eligibility
Value-added producers and companies with traction ($20,000 or more in yearly revenue) in Maryland and Delaware are eligible to apply for Mini-Grants. Participants may apply once for each of the categories. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a unique and differentiated product or service that incorporates an aspect of innovation or technology in its production, processing, distribution, or other element of the food supply system.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Award decisions will be made and funds will be available no later than three weeks following the receipt of a completed application.
Application Process
Applicants must submit Mini-Grant proposals by filling out the form at this link. Copy(ies) of quote(s), proposal(s), estimate(s), or any other supporting documents.

MINI GRANT APPLICATION

ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMES)

CAIC offers access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can offer authoritative advice based on their deep knowledge and experience in a specific area. See the ADVISORS page of this Web site to learn more about the SMEs who are available to CAIC participants.

Register For The CAIC

Date and Time of Session: Wednesday, October 20th; 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Course Description: This presentation discusses strategies for B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) growth via marketing and sales. The presentation focuses on each company’s plans to diversify its revenue streams by using e-commerce, exporting, and overall customer acquisition tactics to support and enhance brand awareness.
Desired Prerequisite Knowledge and Experience of Attendees: There are no prerequisites for this Virtual Presentation.
Criteria for Acceptance into the Virtual Presentation: Attendees need to have a product-based business; this is not suited for technology and/or app companies.