About Us
ACE Basin Growers is a nonprofit 501c3 with a two pronged mission to assist local farmers in being more successful and to promote and support local food systems.
ACE Basin Growers was initially established to operate as a food hub for agricultural producers in the Edisto River watershed and ACE Basin Counties of South Carolina. The mission has since changed and expanded statewide.
ACE helps facilitate connections and transactions between agricultural producers and buyers. This may be as simple as introductions.
ACE operates a program called Choose Local Food Hospitality Grant which offers a grant to reimburse a food service operator 25% for local food purchases up to $1000.
Jim Johnson, MBA
Founder/President
Region Director SBDC
Business Consultant with 20 years in small business operation and ownership, including food service and food products. Specializes in marketing and funding of business.
Sloane Steedley
Secretary
Business Consultant specializing in agricultural marketing, buying food and farm safety. As a farmer/land-owner myself I am very familiar with the challenges the Ag. community faces.
Dr. Keli Feng
Marketing Professor
Dr. Feng Specializes in Supply Chain Logistics and serves as the PI of the grant program.
Board of Directors
Jennifer has a background in food service having owned a restaurant and catering business. She was an educator for many years and has a Masters in Education from U of SC. She understands farming well as she grew up around agriculture.
Anna Zacherl
Orangeburg County Library Director
The Orangeburg County Library is a Countywide system with libraries in Orangeburg, North, Holly Hill, Elloree, Springfield, Santee, a bookmobile, and book deposits for senior citizens at several locations
Stacie Darr
Owner, Yonderfield
Stacie owns the event venue Yonderfield in Bowman, SC and an event management business out of Charelston. She has extensive experience in event managment.
Ian Dillinger
Instinct Earth
Owner and operator of Instinct Earth Farm in Walterboro, South Carolina