Adversity Meets Ingenuity for Food Entrepreneur

Food entrepreneur Will Kornegay hit a major roadblock when COVID-19 struck — one that nearly crushed his dreams.

In this episode of Farms, Food and You, find out how Kornegay used quick thinking and the support of others to turn bad timing with one business into a new venture and a chance to help others who can’t always afford nutritious food.

About Our Guest

Will Kornegay was born, raised and lives in Rocky Mount, where farming of produce and other commodities is key to the economy. He says he always wanted to work in agriculture, but he took a detour after graduation from NC State University with a degree in business. He worked as an energy trader for two years before taking a job with Ham Produce Co. in Snow Hill, when he got firsthand exposure to running sales and operations for a large food company. With his sister, Laura Hearn, he started Ripe Revival in 2019 and then Ripe Revival Market in 2020.

Resources

Learn more about Kornegay’s companies at riperevival.com and riperevivalmarket.com. To find out more about how Ripe Revival turned NC State University discoveries into protein-rich snacks made from excess fruits and vegetables grown by U.S. farmers visit our story “Coming Up: Healthier Foods, Less Food Loss.”