LANE SELMAN, FOUNDER

Lane's journey began on a citrus farm planted by her Sicilian great-grandparents in 1919 along Florida's space coast. After earning degrees in Agronomy (BS) and Entomology (MS) from the University of Florida, Lane transitioned to Oregon in 2000.

Currently serving as a Professor of Practice at Oregon State University, Lane has been deeply involved in collaborating with organic vegetable and grain farmers, managing research projects, and organizing outreach events since 2005. In 2011, she established the Culinary Breeding Network, uniting plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, and other stakeholders to enhance the quality of vegetables and grains.

Lane's impactful work has garnered recognition from prominent media outlets such as The New York Times, Food & Wine, and The Wall Street Journal. She was honored as #19 on the Saveur 100 list in 2020 and received the Award of Excellence for Organic Advocacy from the Oregon Organic Coalition in 2016. Currently, Lane contributes her expertise as a board member of the Portland-Bologna Sister City Association.

Residing in Portland, Oregon, Lane continues to be a driving force in advancing sustainable agriculture and fostering community connections.