About The Community
The Root to Table movement was founded in 2017 by Nancy Craun under the umbrella community of Taste of Blue Ridge. In the Summer of 2024, Root to Table moves to a 501c3 with the same goal – to build a culinary & agricultural platform that embraces community. This community aims to support all things local by creating a network of passionate people supporting real food and healthy lifestyles. Nancy started with a focus group of 12 local chefs, restaurant owners, and farmers to determine if this journey was worth taking. Fast forward almost seven years, and our community has grown to include over 30 chefs, 15 restaurants, and 24 farms which cover the northern Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia.
“I wanted to give local chefs a larger voice and allow them to share their passions. This would allow them to support their communities and the locally grown food scene.” – Nancy Craun
We showcase the Best Culinary Experiences for locals and visitors alike.
Serving the Blue Ridge Region of VA & WV
Mission
To support, promote and influence the regional food system of the Blue Ridge Piedmont region.
Vision
Our vision is for an abundant, verdant and symbiotic regional food system that supports a community of farmers, producers, artisans, hospitality professionals and patrons.
Core Values
Community, Regeneration, Sustainability
“The Root to Table Culinary Series offer food experiences where we take the food from its origin and create amazing cuisine to be savored among friends. It is the conversations the attendees have with chefs and farmers that make this series so unique.” – Nancy Craun
Know your Farmer and Chef
Meet The Community
Top Chefs and Locally Sourced Farms
Whether you have lived in the region all your life and remember the apple and peach orchards or are a new comer, you will be surprised by the extraordinary chefs that are taking our locally sourced food and creating cuisine to rival anywhere in the world.
To match the cuisine, vineyards, breweries, and distilleries are growing grapes, hops, and barley creating award-winning wines, craft beer, and spirits here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Awards
Root to Table has received multiple grants, including Virginia Tourism, Visit Loudoun, American Evolution, Charlottesville – Albemarle County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and West Virginia’s Jefferson County Convention and Visitor Bureau for our Root to Table Culinary Series. Moving into its eighth year, the program highlights unique food happenings that will turn dining into storytelling. These experiences emphasize and highlight our passionate community of Culinarians and Producers.