SouthCoast Women's Forum

The New Bedford Area Chamber is very excited about this year’s Women’s Forum. We will focus on women run and owned businesses in all aspects of the local food business ranging from growers, restaurants, distribution and processing. This program will feature three dynamic panelists; Margie Baldwin of How on Earth; Meredith Ciaburri of The Artisan Kitchen and Laura Foley of Foley Fish Company. This diverse mix of local entrepreneurs that will be sharing some of the many challenges they have overcome to succeed in their professions.

Laura Foley of Foley Fish Company
Laura Foley Ramsden, together with her husband Peter Ramsden, is the 4th generation co-owner of the Foley Fish Company. Foley Fish is an all natural, direct seafood processor located in Boston and New Bedford.  Foley Fish, founded in 1906, specializes in servicing specialty food retailers, fine dining restaurants, hotels, resorts and clubs across the country. Since the early 1990s, Foley Fish has actively participated in fishery management with a Foley presence on both the National Marine Fisheries groundfish advisory panel and the highly migratory species panel.  Laura is currently Governor Deval Patrick’s top nominee for the New England Fishery Management Council. She is the first woman to earn this nomination. Laura Foley Ramsden works closely with the Foley retail customers and chefs to market and differentiate themselves using fresh, all natural, sustainable seafood from New England.

Margie Baldwin of How on Earth
How on Earth was formed by Margie & Michael Baldwin and came from their desire to support and restore local farming in their community. The goal is to educate others in the community about the benefits of organic foods that are produced from nearby farms. It is an organization which seeks to re-establish and restore the diverse agricultural use of our farmlands and the vibrant economy that accompanies quality local food production. Eating locally is easy, fun and a delicious and natural way to reduce your carbon footprint and stimulate the local economy.

Margie is community driven and an activist. She currently serves as a board member for the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP), The Community Foundation and the Marion Institute. Margie was also named “Marion Women of the Year” in 2005 for her exceptional contributions to the area.

Meredith Ciaburri of The Artisan Kitchen
The Artisan Kitchen began as a dream of Meredith Ciaburri for a small boutique style bakery with a focus on fresh, high quality pastries, along with fun whimsical cakes. There just wasn’t anyone else in the area producing a high-quality bakery line.

Soon, the business warranted an expansion, and a small mudroom was converted into a commercial licensed bakery-kitchen. From 2006 to 2008, The Artisan Kitchen expanded their wholesale business to local restaurants and grocery store, and their list of farmers markets grew as did their customer base.

Dawn Gates-Allen of The Freetown Farm LLC Cranberry Farm
Dawn Gates-Allen is the Communications Manager of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association and a 4th generation cranberry grower. The family cranberry business started with Dawn’s Great Grandmother, Adella Gates-Rounsville, which began in 1920’s with only 9 acres of cranberry bog and has now expanded to 102 acres. The bogs are located in Bristol County in the Freetown. Along with her husband Fred and their twin daughter, their cranberry farm operations consists of 27 acres of producing cranberries bogs, 70 acres of upland, water and wetland supporting lands. Dawn’s home is situated on a hill that overlooks her cranberry bogs.