Once Upon a Farm Elevates Impact with Newly Appointed Public Benefit Corporation Advisory Board
Once Upon a Farm (NYSE: OFRM), a mission-driven food brand recognized for delivering organic, farm-fresh snacks and meals for children and families, has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its purpose-led business model with the formation of its inaugural Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) Advisory Board. The newly established board brings together a distinguished group of cross-disciplinary leaders who will help guide the company as it continues to scale its operations while staying firmly aligned with its mission of improving childhood nutrition and driving positive, lasting impact across the food system.
The move underscores Once Upon a Farm’s distinctive position as a publicly traded Public Benefit Corporation—a relatively rare designation among listed companies. As a PBC, the company embeds its social and environmental commitments directly into its corporate charter, ensuring that its purpose is not just aspirational but legally binding. This structure requires the company’s leadership and board of directors to consider the interests of a broad set of stakeholders, including customers, employees, farmers, suppliers, communities, and the environment, alongside traditional shareholder returns.
In a business landscape where public companies often face intense pressure to prioritize short-term financial performance, Once Upon a Farm has deliberately chosen a different path—one that integrates profit and purpose. By doing so, the company aims to demonstrate that long-term value creation can go hand in hand with meaningful societal contributions. The establishment of the PBC Advisory Board represents a natural evolution of this approach, providing the organization with additional expertise and perspective as it navigates the complexities of scaling a mission-driven enterprise.
The advisory board comprises leaders with deep experience across a wide array of sectors, including sustainable food systems, public health, government policy, corporate responsibility, and brand leadership. This diversity of expertise is intended to provide holistic guidance as the company continues to expand its reach while maintaining its commitment to ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to nutritious food.
Among the members is Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association and former Vice President of Impact and Government Relations at Clif Bar, who brings extensive experience in advancing organic agriculture and shaping policy frameworks that support sustainable food systems. Roma McCaig, former Chief Public Affairs and Impact Officer at REI Co-op and a board member of B Lab, contributes deep knowledge of corporate responsibility and stakeholder governance. Deb Eschmeyer, a partner at Original Strategies and former Executive Director of the Let’s Move! initiative, adds expertise in public health and child nutrition advocacy.
The board also includes Kumar Chandran, Policy Director at ReFED and a former senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where his portfolio included major nutrition programs such as WIC, SNAP, and school meals. His policy insights are expected to help the company better align its efforts with broader food security and nutrition initiatives. Ryan Pintado-Vertner, Founder and CEO of Smoketown, brings an entrepreneurial perspective rooted in community impact and inclusive economic development. Rounding out the group is Jane Kuhn, Head of Sustainability and Strategic Sourcing at Once Upon a Farm, who will serve as an internal bridge between the company’s operational strategy and the advisory board’s guidance.
According to John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm, the transition to a Public Benefit Corporation in 2021 marked a transformative moment for the company. By formalizing its mission within its legal framework, the company committed to a more comprehensive model of accountability—one that extends beyond financial metrics to include measurable social and environmental outcomes. He emphasized that the newly formed advisory board will play a crucial role in helping the company navigate the inherent complexities of balancing diverse stakeholder needs while continuing to innovate and grow.
Jane Kuhn highlighted that Once Upon a Farm’s sustainability strategy is rooted in a systems-thinking approach, which considers both upstream and downstream impacts across the value chain. From sourcing ingredients from responsible farming operations to delivering nutritious products to families, the company seeks to create a positive ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. She noted that the PBC model reinforces this perspective by encouraging long-term thinking and integrated decision-making, and that the advisory board’s collective expertise will be instrumental in strengthening this approach.
The PBC Advisory Board is expected to convene on a quarterly basis, reviewing the company’s progress against its public benefit objectives and offering strategic recommendations. These discussions will focus on how to effectively balance stakeholder interests while pursuing business growth, ensuring that the company remains aligned with its mission even as it scales. The board will also help identify opportunities to amplify the company’s impact, whether through innovation in product development, improvements in supply chain sustainability, or expanded access to nutritious food for underserved communities.
Importantly, the advisory board will serve as both a strategic resource and an accountability mechanism. By bringing in external perspectives and subject-matter expertise, Once Upon a Farm aims to maintain transparency and rigor in how it evaluates its performance against its stated commitments. This aligns with the broader expectations of a Public Benefit Corporation, which is required to report on its impact and demonstrate how it is fulfilling its public benefit purpose.
The formation of the advisory board builds on Once Upon a Farm’s broader ambition to drive systemic change in children’s nutrition. At a time when diet-related health challenges continue to affect millions of families, the company is positioning itself as a leader in delivering accessible, high-quality, and responsibly produced food options. By combining its mission-driven ethos with strong governance and expert guidance, Once Upon a Farm is working to redefine what it means to be a modern food company—one that prioritizes both people and the planet alongside profit.
As the company continues to expand its footprint, the PBC Advisory Board is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping its future direction. Through thoughtful oversight and strategic insight, the board will help ensure that Once Upon a Farm remains true to its founding principles while evolving to meet the needs of a changing food landscape. In doing so, the company aims to set a new standard for how purpose-driven businesses can scale successfully, delivering value not just to shareholders, but to society as a whole.
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