Inspiring Conversations with Jennifer Curtis of Firsthand Foods

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Curtis.

Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My career has its roots in the challenges I faced in high school. As my parent’s marriage fell apart, I developed an eating disorder and soon thereafter a series of illnesses that lead to multiple hospitalizations. Recovering from that low point, I developed a lifelong interest in food and the important role it plays in our health and well-being.

Throughout college, my first job, and graduate school (at UNC, Chapel Hill), my interest broadened to include agriculture and how food production practices impact the health of our planet. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a 30+ year career working on fascinating and progressive projects that help improve the sustainability of agriculture, the profitability of small-scale family farmers, and the humane treatment of farm animals.

Today, I co-own Firsthand Foods, a Durham-based women-owned business that sources livestock from a network of remarkable North Carolina farmers and sells meat to Triangle restaurants, retailers, and institutions. I am a proud mother to my now-grown daughter and live in Carrboro with my husband, surrounded by a wonderful community of friends and family.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many challenges. The first big one was graduating from college and moving by myself to San Francisco to work for the Natural Resources Defense Council. I had never lived in a big city or had a professional job before.

I ended up loving it and learned soooo much about research, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and media and communications. When I met and married my husband, we decided to move to North Carolina and over the next few years, we bought a house, had a baby, and I completed graduate school and set up my own consulting business. Not long after, my husband began a 10-year journey through a series of chronic illnesses and surgeries.

Those years are a blur now and they weren’t the easiest in our marriage. Fortunately, we had a lot of family support and are stronger now than ever. Another hurdle was making the switch from working on my own as a consultant in the non-profit/academic world to the private sector and owning a business.

Fortunately, I was able to do this in partnership with Tina Prevatte Levy. As two women in the meat industry, a male-dominated industry, we faced our share of skeptics. But after 11 years in business, I think we’ve demonstrated we can do it!

As you know, we’re big fans of Firsthand Foods. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Firsthand Foods is a women-owned wholesale meat business based in Durham, NC. As a certified B Corp, we source livestock from a network of farmers who raise their animals humanely, outdoors on pasture without growth-promoting antibiotics or added hormones.

We sell local, pasture-raised beef, pork, and lamb to area restaurants, retailers, and institutions. Given that most meat in this country is produced in confinement, on large industrial-scale farms, and is associated with a wide range of social and environmental concerns, we offer our customers something different.

When you purchase Firsthand Foods meats, you are supporting a remarkable network of small-scale farmers dedicated to stewardship of natural resources and the humane treatment of their animals. You can find our meats served at many local restaurants, natural foods groceries, and specialty stores, and when school is in session at various University dining halls.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
When you see Firsthand Foods’ meats on the menu or on store shelves, tell the staff, “Thank you!”

When you don’t see local meats on the menu or on store shelves, ask the staff to consider Firsthand Foods as a vendor. We make it easy for restaurants and retailers to get a consistent supply of fresh local meats raised right!

You can follow us on FB and IG, join our newsletter, and, if you’re willing to pick-up at our Durham warehouse, purchase from us directly, including our popular semi-annual flash sales!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.firsthandfoods.com
• Instagram: @firsthandfoods
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=firsthand%20foods

Image Credits
Stacey Sprenz