Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Miranda Jayde (MJ) Anderson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

MJ, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

The process of starting up, growing and maintaining a business has been challenging – a challenge I am definitely still in the midst of! I definitely did not know what I was getting myself into. I have certainly had the exact thought of “dang, it feels like it would be a lot simpler if I had someone else just telling me what to do”. One of the challenges of being a business owner is, simply put, responsibility. Something I’ve been faced with is that the main person holding me accountable is me, which requires a good deal of motivation.
What motivates me through these moments of struggle is that I truly care so much about the mission behind the business I’ve created. That’s the number 1 reason why I do it, not for the money; however, it would be a heck of a lot harder to keep going if money wasn’t part of the equation.
I do love my job, but I’m only about a year into it, so I can’t say 100% if I’m happier as a business owner.
I can say, though, that it’s nice being able to do things my way.

MJ, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Studying nutrition in college allowed me to discover my curiosity of how food is grown, which of course led me to a farm! I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was through the connections I made at the farm and in my community, that I would naturally form the perfect network of people to start a farmers market in my neighborhood.

My passions mostly circulate around 3 main epicenters: agriculture, the local food system, and community. The local food system is essentially the overlap between agriculture and community, and the piece that the Murray Hill Farmers Market is specifically targeting. How is food getting from the farm to the consumer? How aware are we of where and how their food is grown/produced? How far away from your home does your food come from?

My brand is deeply rooted in sustainability and connection to nature and each other. I hold belief that we all could benefit from taking a little step in the direction of being more connected to our food.

Not only is local, organic food better for the environment, but for our own health too; it’s a win-win.
Food grown through regenerative practices such as incorporating compost into the soil, create healthier ecosystems underground, which in turn creates more nutritious food. It’s about closing the loop of returning food scraps back to the ground to help create more delicious food!
The health of the soil directly impacts the health of the food, which directly impacts the health of you.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I love this question. The cofounder of the farmers market is Nadia, a 67 year old woman who lives off-grid in her RV. Nadia uses just a small solar panel to charge her phone, a gas powered stove top to cook, and a nearby pond to cool down in the hotter months. She takes full advantage of the edible native plants in her area, and has a deep respect for indigenous culture and tradition.
This woman is the walking example of someone who truly desires to live more in tune with nature, a woman who is talking the talk AND walking the walk. She genuinely cares about the Earth more than anyone I know.

I met Nadia almost 4 years ago at the Riverside Arts Market where she was selling her biodegradable, reusable food cover wraps as a replacement for plastic saran wrap. We had an inspiring conversation and I bought a few of her wraps. I was so excited about them I even posted on Instagram reflecting on the whole experience.
Little did I know that this interaction would lead to a true friendship between us, rooted in values of sustainability and connection to nature. And little did I know that this friendship over the years is what would lead to Nadia suggesting: “Hey, what if you started a farmers market in Murray Hill?”

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Integrity: staying true to the core values and pillars that were established at the creation of the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: (Coming soon): murrayhillfarmersmarket.com
• Instagram: murrayhillfarmersmarket
• Facebook: Murray Hill Farmers Market

Image Credits
Cat Tortorici (@cattortoriciphotography) Daniel Carbonell (@1997danielc)