Breana Killeen on Backing Small Farms Without Burning Restaurants' Budgets

Breana Killeen is a food writer, recipe developer, culinary nutritionist, and farmer based in Vermont. With over 16 years of experience in food media, she’s written and edited more than 2,500 recipes for brands like EatingWell, AllRecipes, and HelloFresh while also running Killeen Crossroads Farm, a small regenerative farm she co-owns with her husband. In this conversation, Killeen joins chef Matt Jennings and Carolyn Grillo to talk about building a closed-loop farm system, bridging the gap between chefs and small farmers, and finding the balance between sustainability, food media, and family life.TakeawaysA closed-loop system lets animals, crops, and compost sustain one anotherStrong farm-to-chef relationships rely on trust and communicationEducate diners about the true cost of food and the value of quality ingredientsResourcefulness starts with using every part of the ingredientSmall local commitments create lasting impactTastings build curiosity and connection within the teamBridge food media and farming to show seasonality and sustainabilityCultural respect begins with intention and techniqueUse menus and language as tools for education, not just marketingAuthenticity and curiosity keep the work meaningfulWant to connect directly with industry thought leaders like today’s guest?MAJC has built a community of hospitality professionals, where insights and tools help drive sustainable, profitable businesses. To get early access to the MAJC community, sign up at www.MAJC.ai.