FoodiO, as described by founder Jamie Grant, is a non-traditional farmers’ market with goals of empowering people through food. The business serves up breakfast, lunch, and takeaway dinners, while funding outreach programs to help individuals struggling with food insecurity. Grant is driven by her mission to help others purchase, cook, and afford an ample diet.
Saturday, October 29, FoodiO celebrates its one year anniversary in Downtown Ashland! In anticipation, Downtown Ashland Association met with Grant to learn more about FoodiO and its plans for the future.
FoodiO’s grand opening celebration in October 2021
Grant is a native of Tappahannock, Virginia, and a graduate of Randolph-Macon College. “As a kid, we would come up to Ashland and I always thought it was the cutest and most genuine town,” says Grant. Following graduation, Grant continued working as staff at Randolph-Macon College. It was during this time she developed a vision for owning her own business in the community. When the business of Ashland Coffee & Tea came available for purchase, she jumped at the chance!
Beginning in 2021, Grant rebranded the business FoodiO: Farm, Farmers’ Market, Eatery to reflect its new direction. She expanded the menu–with entrees, baked goods, smoothies, and ice cream–and rearranged the space. The result is a fast-casual eatery that provides a hot breakfast, satisfying lunch, or takeaway dinner.
Jamie Grant
Grant prides herself on offering produce from her own farm and from other local growers. FoodiO provides retail spaces for fresh produce and handmade goods from partnering farms and makers. This model is popular at the FoodiO location in Tappahannock, and Grant looks forward to bringing an expanded version to Ashland.
By building businesses in each community, she is creating a platform for food security outreach. Grant’s efforts encourage individuals’ agency. She helps people learn financial literacy, paying bills, and even growing their own food to help with expenses. Grant explained that her greatest joy in outreach work thus far has been “customers that couldn’t read or write understanding food better and really taking away hope and confidence of their own abilities.”
When asked about future plans, Grant stated, “I would love to have a FoodiO in every food-insecure community in Virginia! Virginia is a rather food insecure place with 1 in 6 people being food insecure.”
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Visit FoodiO at 100 N. Railroad Ave; open 7:30am- 3pm Wednesday through Saturday.
