MEET TEAM AGRIBERRY

Anne Frackelton Geyer is the spark that launched Agriberry Farm. Anne operates Agriberry Farm along with her husband Chuck Geyer, her son Pierson Geyer, and her sister Susan runs the Annapolis area CSA and the Sunday market in Bethesda, MD.

Anne is dedicated to helping the world “Eat More Berries,” due to their high nutritional value and health benefits. Further, Anne believes that everyone benefits from having the chance to work on a farm. While picking berries requires dexterity, stamina and a tolerance for outdoor conditions, it is a job that can be performed safely by relatively inexperienced workers.

Those ideas converged with the founding of Agriberry Farm in Hanover County in 2008, and the launch of the area’s only fruit-oriented CSA in 2009, connecting local food fans with nutritious, healthy fruit and providing agricultural work for a small year-round crew and a summer harvest team.

Anne is a graduate of Wells College in Aurora, New York. She grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and her summer adventures picking and eating wild black raspberries with her siblings helped inspire her to grow cane berries on Agriberry Farm.

“Farmer Chuck” understands the complexities of fruit-growing with a depth and intensity few can match. As the Geyer family patriarch and the farm’s IPM (Integrated Pest Management) lead, he works closely with the harvest and plant care team to ensure that the fruit, workers and consumers stay healthy and safe.  A natural engineer, he keeps all the farm equipment and infrastructure running, and he represents the farm at the Ix Park Farmers Market in Charlottesville every Saturday in season.

Chuck grew up on a dairy farm in Upstate New York, and has a bachelors degree in Agriculture from Delaware Valley College in Doyleston, Pa., and he also is an active member of many regional and national fruit and berry-growing organizations.

They say apples don’t fall far from their trees, and that is surely true of Pierson Geyer, because he inherited a deep connection to farming and community from Anne and Chuck. Being the farm’s General Manager gives him an active role in all aspects of the farm, including the markets and CSA. In addition, he oversees the field, kitchen and warehouse activities at the farm.

Pierson’s exceptional talents are recognized on and off the farm, as is evidenced by his selection for the peer-nominated “40 Under 40” Class of 2018 list of national leaders in agriculture. This recognition is due in part to his role as the youngest-ever president of the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association (NARBA.)

Pierson has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, and he uses his teaching skills daily in the office and in the fields to help strengthen the Geyer family farm.

Anne’s sister Susan coordinates the Annapolis-area CSA for Agriberry Farm. When she was a personal trainer at the Annapolis Athletic Club, Susan realized her Annapolis-area friends, clients and neighbors were more than ready for the health benefits of berries and fruit from Agriberry Farm.

Susan and her husband Robert visit the farm often and help with planting and other projects and special events.

Alli began working for Agriberry in 2014, and she became a team lead in 2019. She graduated from Randolph Macon in 2021, and her favorite thing about the farm is her team members on the Field Crew.  Her favorite fruit is Nantahala Raspberries. Fun fact: Alli still has and uses the same pair of rainboots she wore on her first day in 2014.

Alyssa is Agriberry’s ace Warehouse Associate, and she provides a kind and smiling welcome to all who meet her.

Angel is Agriberry Farm’s Warehouse Manager, and keeps all the plates spinning for everything incoming and outgoing, plus a whole lot more. With a background in restaurants and food production, she also helps out in the kitchen, and you’ll often see her helping out at markets around town.

Austin began working seasonally for Agriberry in 2012. After he graduated from Randolph Macon in 2016, he began working for the farm year-round. He became a team lead in 2017 and became production manager in 2018. His favorite thing about the farm is the outdoor environment. His favorite farm fruit is Chickasaw blackberries. Fun fact: Austin spent a summer working on a peach and sheep farm on Middle Island in New Zealand.

Charlie started with Agriberry Farm in 2017. In 2019 he became team lead and began helping at farmers markets and with warehouse support. He stepped into his current role of Field Supervisor in 2021 so he is responsible for hiring and managing the farm’s team of year-round and seasonal field employees. Charlie also anchors the Saturday team at the year-round Farmers Market at St. Stephen’s in Richmond.. In addition, he is the farm’s lead on its annual GAP certification and compliance (Good Agriculture Practices, as established by the USDA.)His favorite Agriberry fruit is Von blackberries, and his favorite thing about the farm is the connection to the land. Fun fact: Charlie can often be spotted picking a tune with the Garden Variety String Band around town.

Ed takes care of CSA and Market customers for the Geyer Family at the Atlee Farm Stand and the Huguenot-Robious Market. Quality is Job One for Ed, who is a Charter CSA member of the farm. A native of Waynesboro, Ed and his wife have lived in Hanover for more than 40 years. Among his many interest are caning and woodworking, roots music and being the world’s best grandpa.

Jake began with the field crew of the farm in the spring of 2021, and became a Team Lead that summer. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Environmental Horticulture with a minor in Viticulture and Mycology), and he worked as farm manager for Beaver Creek Farm from 2018-2021. His favorite thing about the farm is the privilege of being a part of the local food system. Muscadine grapes are his favorite fruit on the farm. Fun fact: Jake was in a Cabbage Patch Kids recall commercial in 1996.

Marjorie is the Office Manager for Agriberry Farm. She began her connection with Agriberry in 2011 as a CSA member and neighbor, and started work for “a few hours a week” in 2012. She has helped the Geyer family in many roles over the years, including jam making, warehouse work, markets, and as CSA coordinator.

Multi-talented Mike is our go-to-guy for deliveries all around the Richmond area for our wholesale customers. As if bringing berries to the world wasn’t entertaining enough, Mike can also be spotted picking and singing everyone’s favorite tunes and many area farmer’s markets around town. Thanks Mike for being such a friendly face for the farm! Photo courtesy of our friends at Little House Green Grocery.

Rebecca anchors Agriberry’s year-round West End Farmers Market team, as well as several other weekly spots throughout the season.

Sara started with Agriberry Farm fall of 2020 as a harvester and market associate.  January of 2021 Sara ascended into her current role of CSA Coordinator.  When the Summer season started Market Manager role was added.  Sara’s love of fruit expanded once she had access to fresh picked fruit.  During down time Sara can be found hiking and paddleboarding with her 2 dogs, Sage & Danner.