The local farm-sales platform, called Healthy PlanEat, was originally the brainchild of East Lyme, Conn., native Rosemary Ostfeld, who teaches sustainable agriculture at Wesleyan University.
Published May 19. 2021 3:30PM
By Hugh M. Ryan, Special to the Times
Healthy PlanEat, an online seller of locally and sustainably produced foodstuffs, is expanding its offerings.
This nascent enterprise, based in East Lyme, provides a website for farmers who use sustainable practices to sell directly to consumers throughout southeastern and central Connecticut. “Sustainable” refers to such practices as no-till planting and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and stifle pests, as well as responsible irrigation that minimizes run-off, bans on synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and humane treatment of animals raised for milk, eggs, and human consumption.
Founder and CEO Rosemary Ostfeld, recently selected by Connecticut magazine as one of 40 high achievers under 40, earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, followed by a Ph.D in land economy at the University of Cambridge in England. She is a visiting assistant professor of enviro
Rosemary Ostfeld
Rosemary Ostfeld ’10, MA ’12, visiting assistant professor of environmental studies and public policy, was named to
The 32-year-old from East Lyme, Conn., is the founder of Healthy PlanEat, a new sustainable food-tech startup that helps farmers who use sustainable growing practices sell their farm-fresh goods (whether fruits or veggies, cheese or oysters) directly to local customers.
Farmers using Healthy PlanEat which enthusiastic members of the community helped start via a crowdfunding campaign can upload inventory, set distribution options, and manage incoming orders. Customers can purchase food to pick up at the farms themselves, at farmers markets, at pop-up shop locations, or for delivery.