How Taste of Appalachia Is Helping Local Food Businesses Grow with Terrell Ellis

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Terrell Ellis of Advantage Valley about the second year of Taste of Appalachia, a program created to support small food producers across the region. We discuss what the organization learned during its first year, especially the challenges of packing, shipping, and managing the details involved in fulfillment. Terrell explains that the program exceeded its original goal by selling 1,145 gift boxes, representing about 8,200 individual products from participating vendors. This year, Advantage Valley plans to grow the program with 18 vendors featured across six gift boxes and a goal of selling 1,500 boxes. We also talk about the October 18 event at Capitol Market, where people can sample products, meet vendors, and purchase boxes. Terrell also explains Advantage Valley’s plans to explore a certified commercial kitchen that could help small food producers scale their businesses, along with the organization’s broader work supporting entrepreneurs and business growth throughout the Charleston and Huntington region.