About us

President

Finance Committee 

Susan Stewart is the director of a nonprofit organization (Maryland Area Health Education Center West), the mother of three, and a huge fan of dogs. She also loves to cook and learn new techniques to apply to this passion. She’s always trying the Wholesome Harvest “grab n’ go” items looking for interesting flavors and textures. Living in Frostburg has taught her a great adoration for the outdoors, which she explores primarily through hiking and biking. Nature is what rejuvenates her. What motivates her is the intention to help her community, which she considers all of the Western Maryland region, and especially Allegany County. 

Treasurer

Finance Committee 

A Garrett County native, Tracy Edwards has lived in this area for most of her life. She teaches Geography and Sustainability Studies courses at Frostburg State University and ACM. She supports Wholesome Harvest’s mission to provide affordable locally grown food through the coop model. Tracy joined WH in 2022 and is currently serving as Treasurer. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys waiting tables at UNOs, working with regional historical societies and the Allegany County Civil War Roundtable, visiting breweries, wineries, and distillery’s near and far, and traveling any chance she gets. 

Secretary

Communications Committee 

Caroline Hailey-Kesler is WHFC's Kitchen Coordinator and currently serves on our Board of Directors as Board Secretary. Initially elected in 2021 by the WHFC staff as Employee Representative, Caroline has entered her second consecutive term on our Board of Directors. In her work as Kitchen Coordinator, she has introduced a thriving kitchen program focused on sustainability and the reduction of food waste to Wholesome Harvest. 

Originally from CO, Caroline moved to Cumberland in 2015 and has been working in the Allegany County restaurant community for more than 5 years. Ever the entrepreneur, Caroline co-owns an event bartending business with her husband and bakes and paints on the side. She enjoys the outdoors in any way she can, often through hiking, backpacking, and camping with her husband and niece.

Board Member at Large

Grant Administrator / Finance Committee

Nancy Giunta has been an active member and volunteer with WHFC since its inception. She served as a member of the initial steering committee that created WHFC in 2018, then as a grant writer and administrator of the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant funding awarded to WHFC in 2018 and in 2021, totaling over $1 million. In 2019, Nancy joined the Board of Directors where she served as president from October 2021 through December 2023. Nancy has been involved with food co-ops for 30 years from MD to CA. She is motivated by the complexity of what is a seemingly simple concept: getting local food to local residents, and supporting the local economy. She loves knowing that by shopping at the co-op, she is directly supporting the people who live and work in the region. Nancy is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Frostburg State University and lives in Cumberland, MD with her partner (an internationally recognized visual artist) and two cats.

Board Member at Large

Finance Committee / LFPP Grant Committee

Harold Taylor moved to Frostburg where he graduated with a BA in English in 1990. Harold first started cooking and gardening at age five. Growing up, he enjoyed exploring the ethnic restaurants of the D.C. area and trying to recreate their cuisine. Indeed, it was this passion for vegetarian and ethnic cuisine that led Harold and like minded friends to Gandalf’s Bar and Restaurant, a cooperatively owned restaurant specializing in organic and locally grown whole foods, vegetarian, and ethnic cuisines. Harold served as President at Gandalf’s from 1996-2003. With his extensive background in the cooperative business style and passion for local and sustainable food, Harold was initially drawn to WHFC as a volunteer on the Finance Committee before becoming our Director of Finance at the end of 2022 and eventually stepping into the role of Director of Operations in 2023. Harold has served on our Board of Directors since Spring of 2023. He also works as administrator of Savage Mountain Punk Arts. When not at work Harold spends his time translating Slavic, Baltic, and Celtic folklore into English, biking, x-c skiing, foraging for mushrooms and fruit, gardening & cooking.

Membership Liaison

Communications Committee

Elected to the Board of Directors in 2022, Elyssa is one of our newest Board members. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she recently relocated to Western Maryland with her husband and four children. Having owned and operated a small business making and selling specialty CBD products in Nevada, Elyssa brings a new perspective to the WHFC BOD and sits on our Communications and Outreach Committee. Settling into small-town life as a vegan, Elyssa relies on WHFC for her every-day shopping needs and is invested in the success of the Co-op and our mission to provide quality plant-based options, humanely raised meats, and ethically sourced products to Allegany County. Elyssa and her family live in Cumberland and are enjoying their new-found life in Western Maryland and the natural beauty which surrounds us.