All in the Geyer Family

Anne Frackelton Geyer is the spark that launched and continues to inspire Agriberry Farm and the Geyer family. Anne operates Agriberry Farm along with her husband Chuck Geyer, her son Pierson Geyer, and daughter Colleen Geyer, along with help from her sisters Susan and Molly.

She wants the world to “Eat More Berries,” due to their high nutritional value and health benefits. Furthermore, Anne deeply believes that every young person benefits from the chance to work on a farm. Those ideas converged with the founding of Agriberry Farm in Hanover County in 2008, and they still guide the farm today.

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, and Anne closed the loop by launching Agriberry Farm in Hanover county, which now offers the area’s only fruit-oriented CSA, thereby connecting local food fans with nutritious, healthy fruit and providing young workers in the area with early employment skills and a glimpse into the possibilities of agriculture as a career. (Click to learn more about in the farm’s Young Worker Program.)

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 shape Anne’s desire to grow cane berries on Agriberry Farm.

“Farmer Chuck” knows fruit growing with a depth and intensity few can match.  He hand-prunes and hand-harvests the fruit from each of the peach, cherry, plum and apple trees in the farm orchard. 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 Charlottesville City Market 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, Pennsylvania, 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 has inherited such a love of farming 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 harvest, including the hiring and training of seasonal workers each season. Further, he is responsible for maintaining the farm’s GAP certification and compliance (Good Agriculture Practices, as established by the USDA.) 

Pierson’s exceptional talents are recognized on and off the farm, as is evidenced by his recent selection by 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 also participates in many local and regional programs, including support for emerging farmers in conjunction with the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University.

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

Colleen is Kitchen Manager for Agriberry Farm. She and her twin sister Mary Claire grew up helping out in the fields, in the kitchen and at markets, so she was steeped in the joy of fresh food, extended family gatherings, and hard work. In her newly defined role overseeing the farm’s busy certified commercial kitchen, Colleen is responsible for overseeing the recipes, procedures and production of the farm’s jams and other jarred items, baked goods, frozen fruit and other pantry staples.

With her passion for cooking obvious from an early age, Colleen earned a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I., and she pursued advanced internships in the U.S. and France in Pastry and Baking. She has launched her own business, River City Bakery, and is participating weekly at the Tuesday afternoon Birdhouse Market in downtown Richmond. Colleen is an avid wellness fan, with a compelling “backstory” regarding weight loss through good nutrition and exercise. Colleen is also a certified “BodyPump” instructor, and she loves distance cycling and running, and playing with her dog Aurora.

Mary Claire Geyer farms in the Pacific Northwest. She breeds and shears her own flock of Icelandic Sheep, and works at other area farms. She is learning to train cutting horses, enjoys fiber arts, and is passionate about heritage food and low-impact living. She loves her current digs, but knows there’s a spot for her in Virginia when she’s ready.

Anne’s sister Susan coordinates the Annapolis area CSA for Agriberry Farm. As a personal trainer at the Annapolis Athletic Club, Susan knew her 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.

Molly, Anne’s youngest sister, keeps the books for Agriberry Farm. Molly is known to be Berry Sweet by all who meet her.

Ellen is Anne’s niece, and she has been helping at the farm since she was in middle school.  Now that she and her husband Will are raising their family in Williamsburg, they represent Agriberry Farm at the Williamsburg Farmers Market every Saturday during the harvest season. When their schedules permit, the offer the Agriberry Farm CSA in the Williamsburg area.

Ellen teaches reading at a Williamsburg area elementary school, and Will works for the College of William and Mary, while they raise their two sons, Johnny and James.

Another member of the “Studley Neighbor Gang,” Billy has helped with many aspects of the farm.  He has done deliveries, helped at markets and he’s currently found each week at the Great Big Greenhouse Market.

Ruth began helping at farmers markets and as member of the Harvest Team. She also helps out in the farm office and is a lead at the Saturday Market at St. Stephen’s.

Marjorie helps in the farm office, with the website and fills in at markets. She began her connection with the farm as a CSA member and neighbor, and has helped the Geyer family in many roles, including jam making, warehouse work, markets, and as CSA coordinator.