Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor

Founder + 5th Generation
Seaside Grown

Strategy to sustain and protect are necessary means of survival for today’s small American farmer. Without a plan to diversify or guarantee a crop’s yield is a recipe for potential farm failure. For Ross Taylor, the idea to repurpose the beautiful red tomatoes caught each June on his family’s 120-year old South Carolina tomato farm was a brilliant and multifaceted sustainability opportunity that would ultimately add to the bottom line instead of take away from it. To sustain the required shelf life, farmers sell produce into the perishable commodities market before its peak ripeness, therefore, produce caught ripe at harvest most often finds its fate in a pile of waste. His strategy, aptly named Seaside Grown, was officially founded in 2018, and his team has since created 20 value-added products including Bloody Mary Mixes, Margarita Mix, BBQ Sauces, Jams and Salsas. Taylor expanded his mission this past year, reaching out to fellow American blueberry, peach, pepper, and citrus farmers to purchase their “waste” for use in the company’s Field to Glass® recipes, thus earning Seaside Grown the trademark, The Local Farmer’s Brand™.