Ag group's director to step down

Anthony Flaccavento

By: Michael Owens | TriCities.com
Published: January 07, 2009

After 14 years of helping dozens of small local farmers thrive in an economy more suited to massive farming companies, Anthony Flaccavento has decided to share his talents in other parts of the country.
Flaccavento on Tuesday announced plans to step down as executive director of the Abingdon-based, nonprofit agency called Appalachian Sustainable Development. He will remain on board until December, allowing the organization enough time for the transition and to find his replacement.
His talents of combining farming with sound business practices and environmentally safe goals have gained national attention since ASD was founded in 1995.
The organization mainly connects small farmers in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee with stores and other distributors.
“Personally, the reason I’m leaving is because the kind of work we do here ... is in great demand in other parts of the country,” Flaccavento said by telephone Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, said Tuesday that Flaccavento is the reason many local farmers are still in business.
“He is the premier advocate for farmers in our region and has done outstanding work to open new markets for our farmers by acquainting our farmers with selling fresh produce ... [and encouraged] grocery stores in our region to purchase local produce,” Boucher said.
Among ASD’s work:
n A 15,000-square-foot packing and grading facility for organic produce and free-range eggs in Duffield, Va.;
n A farm incubator project with the town of Abingdon that was designed to help young farmers;
n The Holston Valley Green Building Coalition, which includes more than 100 businesses and local leaders working to spread environmentally safe building practices in the region.
Flaccavento said he has considered leaving since last year and finalized the decision a few weeks ago.
In a statement Tuesday, ASD board President Jim Baldwin said finding a replacement will be difficult.
“Of course we have mixed feelings about this change,” Baldwin said. “Anthony [Flaccavento] founded the organization and has been the driving force behind sustainable development in our region for many years. It will be a challenge to find another person with his capabilities.”
Flaccavento also said he believes ASD will thrive after his departure.
“It’s a wrenching thing when a director leaves, but I feel that ASD can weather it because [ASD] is a strong company,” he said.
When he leaves ASD, Flaccavento said, he will work as a consultant from his home in Abingdon. Already, he said, he has done some consulting through ASD with communities in New Mexico, Arizona and other parts of the country.
“People have heard about the work I’ve done here,” he said.
For the most part, though, he said he will work on his organic farm.
mowens@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2549

Ag group's director to step down

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