Jason Fournier

Principal, BerryDunn

A Principal in BerryDunn’s Commercial Group, Jason works exclusively with commercial entities in a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, wholesale and retail distribution, professional services, forest products, and natural resources. Jason leads BerryDunn’s Technology and Manufacturing Practices and is a member of the firm’s Transactional Advisory Service and International Service Teams. He brings over 20 years of accounting experience working for BerryDunn and Deloitte in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Why are you invested in Harvesting Good?  

As a board member of Harvesting Good, my investment is deeply rooted in our mission to improve access to nutritious food for people in need and strengthen regional food systems by creating a food processing infrastructure for farmers in the Northeast. This dual focus on alleviating food insecurity and supporting local agriculture speaks to the heart of our organization’s purpose. It reflects my dedication to empowering and uplifting our local community.

What’s your favorite broccoli dish?  

General Tso’s Chicken with Broccoli.

Kristen Miale

Managing Director, Caswell Advisory Group, LLC

Kristen Miale is a managing director at Caswell Advisory Group, a sell-side mergers and acquisitions firm specializing in representing business owners throughout New England and facilitating the sale of businesses valued between $3 million and $15 million.

Before her role at CAG, Kristen served as president of Good Shepherd Food Bank for eleven years. As president, she led the organization through several transformational growth periods to become an innovative, equity-focused organization that distributed over 30M meals annually through a network of over 600 community-based organizations. While at the food bank, she saw local agriculture’s role in strengthening community food security and founded Harvesting Good with her team to leverage the state’s vegetable growing capacity to enhance the regional food system.

Before her work in food security, she worked for more than a decade in finance (both public and private equity) and business consulting. Kristen is also a board member of Daily Table, a non-profit community grocery store chain in Massachusetts.

Why are you invested in Harvesting Good?:

Harvesting Good is an opportunity to create a responsible food production model that makes quality, nutritious food while also providing environmental stewardship and ensuring profits are fairly distributed across the supply chain – from the workers who grew the food to those who processed it and those who sold and distributed it. It creates an opportunity for small, regional farms to grow their sales beyond the fresh market. It extends the seasonality of Maine’s iconic, heritage blueberry industry, thereby increasing economic opportunity for rural communities. It also creates access to local, nutritious food year-round for all consumers. It’s a true win-win-win!

What’s your favorite broccoli dish?:

Pasta with olive oil, garlic, red pepper, broccoli, and parmesan!

Heather Paquette

President, Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine

As the President of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, Heather leads a dedicated team of hunger relief professionals who address the root causes of hunger by exploring innovative solutions, sourcing nutritious and culturally relevant food, and collaborating with a network of over 600 partnerships across Maine.

Heather’s professional history reflects her commitment to innovation. Before joining the Food Bank, she played a pivotal role at Ahold Delhaize, where she led a team focused on addressing the changing needs of retail consumers and store associates during the industries’ evolution and omnichannel ambitions. Her team sourced, tested, and delivered innovative solutions to enhance the consumer experience for the five brands under the Ahold Delhaize brand umbrella.

Why are you invested in Harvesting Good?:

I’m excited about Harvesting Good’s ability to connect the different parts of our ecosystem to achieve food security in Maine. From local farmers and processors to the business community to our neighbors, it aligns many other partners in finding a new, more significant way to address the needs of everyone in Maine.

What’s your favorite broccoli dish?:

My grandmother made Chicken Divan, and it was terrific; I’ve spent years trying to replicate it!

Frank Pecoraro

Owner, Coastal Pacific
Food Distributions & Chair of the Harvesting Good Board

Frank Pecoraro has been in the supply chain business for his lengthy (too long to mention) career. He consults worldwide, helping companies improve their quality and efficiency and setting up logistics systems worldwide for his clients, teaming partners, and supply chain businesses. When he retired full-time as the CEO of Coastal Pacific Food Distributors in 2016 (to move back home to Maine), Coastal did nearly $2.0B in sales and distributed goods in seven countries and the US with almost 800 fellow employees.

Why are you invested in Harvesting Good?

It is a bold attempt to make a real difference and return Maine to its former ability to process food on a large scale.  This provides jobs, and provides quality local product, prevents excessive transportation of products, and acts as an incubator for other food producers to perform more processing in Maine.

What’s your favorite broccoli dish?

Well, it’s not the healthiest, but it’s hard to beat linguine with alfredo sauce, broccoli, and chicken. Healthy-wise, I like it roasted with olive oil, and I have a perennial debate with Debbie (my wife) about appropriate doneness. I love it overcooked.