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.

Takeaways

• A closed-loop system lets animals, crops, and compost sustain one another
• Strong farm-to-chef relationships rely on trust and communication
• Educate diners about the true cost of food and the value of quality ingredients
• Resourcefulness starts with using every part of the ingredient
• Small local commitments create lasting impact
• Tastings build curiosity and connection within the team
• Bridge food media and farming to show seasonality and sustainability
• Cultural respect begins with intention and technique
• Use menus and language as tools for education, not just marketing
• Authenticity and curiosity keep the work meaningful

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