Thank you

to those who have contributed greatly to the Utopian Seed Project!

Meet the Team

  • A man in a blue jacket and striped beanie taking a selfie outdoors on a farm or garden with a plastic-covered garden bed, a red and white building, a wooden fence, and mountains in the background.

    CHRIS SMITH

    Executive Director, Founder

    Chris is a the founder of The Utopian Seed Project and loves growing and eating food. His book, The Whole Okra, won a James Beard Award for History, Research and Scholarship in 2020. He’s passionate about sustainable food systems, heritage seed saving, and surviving the apocalypse. 

    www.blueandyellowmakes.com

  • A man taking a selfie outdoors on a farm, with a mountain and a red barn in the background, wearing a blue jacket and a striped beanie.

    Leeza Regensburger

    Farm Manager, WNC Seed Growers Collective Leadership Team

  • A man wearing a blue jacket and gray beanie taking a selfie outdoors in a rural area with a mountainside, a small red and blue barn, and a hillside in the background.

    Shelby Johnson

    2023 Seed Mentee, WNC Seed Growers Collective Leadership Team

  • A man outdoors in front of a farm with a mountain in the background, wearing a blue jacket and a striped beanie.

    TA'RIN'II

    2023 Seed Mentee

  • A man stands in an outdoor farm or garden, holding a rake, wearing a plaid shirt, beige pants, and a baseball cap, with greenery and rows of plants in the background.

    Jamie Swofford

    Founding Board Member

    As The Chef’s Farmer, Jamie is a former chef turned farmer focused on growing the best tasting food possible and sharing it widely and with great generosity. His skills in the kitchen and the field make Jamie an incredible asset for The Utopian Seed Project, bringing a market and chef perspective to our work.

    www.thechefsfarmer.com

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Our Rockstar Family

  • Smiling elderly woman with glasses holding a book, sitting at a table filled with various ripe tomatoes, a bowl of smaller tomatoes, a cucumber, and a few other vegetables, near a large window with trees outside.

    Carol Koury

    Founding Board Member

    Founder of Sow True Seed, Carol is a visionary with a large heart and deep passion for building a secure and sustainable food system. As a lover of food and a long time gardener, Carol’s seed industry experience have helped The Utopian Seed Project launch itself into the Southeastern seed system.

    Carol is spending more time focuses on family at her home on Martha’s Vineyard, but continues to be a close friend of the project from afar!

  • A man in a red jacket standing with arms crossed in a green garden or farm with large leafy plants.

    Jordan Collins

    2021 Research Assistant

     Jordan is continuing to research okra in Arizona, especially its industrial applications and potential as an oilseed crop.

  • An older man with a beard and mustache wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, standing among tall green plants inside a greenhouse.

    Tony Kleese

    Founder and Solutionary of The People’s Seed

    Tony Kleese was a legendary seed and farming advocate who’s legacy organization, The People’s Seed, joined forces with The Utopian Seed Project in 2020. Tony’s mission was to redesign the funding and decision making systems for seed and plant development with a focus on farmer success, food security, nutrition, and protecting the environment.

    Read his full obituary HERE.

  • A man outdoors near a lake, smiling, wearing a gray cap and t-shirt, with green trees and water in the background.

    Eric Cohen

    Board Member

    Eric developed his skills in organic production by partnering with Tony Kleese to grow organic produce in 2009 and this led to a strong friendship between the two. Tony recruited Eric as a board member for The People’s Seed because of Eric’s passion for supporting local and organic food and his highly developed marketing skills. When The People’s Seed merged into The Utopian Seed Project, Eric joined TUSP’s board to help continue Tony’s vision.  Eric continues to support our vision as a solid friend of the project!

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