DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2023) Happy Dirt®, a Certified B Corporation and one of the most unique organic produce distribution companies on the East Coast, has named Natasha Goldstein chief financial officer. While in her role with Happy Dirt, Goldstein will lead the company into its next phase of financial growth by taking over the company’s core financial operations and assisting in a capital fundraising campaign.
“I am extremely excited to take on the role of CFO for Happy Dirt. Happy Dirt has grown incredibly fast over the last few years and has a bright future ahead.” Goldstein said. “Happy Dirt not only purchases and distributes organic produce, but they also help farmers transition to organic practices and work to find avenues for new farmers to enter the business (which is very capital-intensive, and thus has high barriers to entry).”
Goldstein brings with her 16 years of valuable experience as an exited-founder and CEO, former CFO, and a corporate financial professional in the social enterprise and impact investing spaces. In 2017, Goldstein launched The Accountkeepers – a social enterprise, technology-enabled accounting firm – to lead a movement to re-write the social contract between employers and employees in America. She sold the company to inDinero in 2019.
Since 2019, Happy Dirt has experienced year-over-year, double-digit growth, all while focusing on the triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The company is in a position to expand its warehouse space, add additional trucks to the company fleet, and hire future talent in order to continue to help their farmer-partners expand organic acreage and meet the increasing demand for organic produce from family farms.
“We are very excited to welcome Natasha as our chief financial officer,” said Randall Diers, President and Co-Owner of Happy Dirt. “With her experience in social enterprise and impact investing spaces, we are confident that Natasha will be able to lead Happy Dirt and our farmer-partners into the next phase of financial growth.”
In order to make room for its continued, positive growth, Goldstein will assist and lead them in a capital fundraising campaign.
“I am proud that we were able to attract someone with Natasha’s level of expertise in the sustainable finance industry into our farmer-focused, food-system-change movement,” said Sandi Kronick, CEO and Founder of Happy Dirt. “It gives me a lot of hope that we can bring this talent not only to our business, but also to the movement and industry in general.”
Happy Dirt’s farmer-owned business model and mission make the company one of the most unique organic produce distributors. Goldstein took on the role of fractional chief financial officer because of the positive impact that Happy Dirt has made in the food system and on the lives of organic farmers, as well as the company’s inclusive culture.
“Farming is an incredibly important and difficult business. People are often completely unaware of the immense time and effort that goes into the produce they buy at the supermarket.” Goldstein said. “On top of this, we need to implement more organic and regenerative farming practices to protect our soils and to continue feeding the planet. Happy Dirt not only supports this by supporting farms in their transition from conventional to organic, they also put the farmer first. I feel privileged to be able to work at Happy Dirt and further this mission with a truly fantastic team.”
To learn more about the impactful work Happy Dirt is doing within the food system, email Taylor Meadow at [email protected]. If you are interested in learning how you can work with Happy Dirt, email Pat Bayor at [email protected]
About Happy Dirt®
Happy Dirt is an organic grower, packer, and shipper located in Durham, North Carolina. As a Certified B Corporation, Happy Dirt is committed to creating economic, social, and environmental sustainability within the food system. Founded in 2004 by Sandi Kronick with a grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund, Happy Dirt has helped individual farmers increase their organic production from 3 to 5 acres to over 400 acres and has paid over $50 million to farmers. The company is farmer-and-staff owned with 16 farmer-owners and two staff-owners. Happy Dirt now works with over 140 farms across the United States, bridging the food system while working to strengthen its regional food system.
