The National FFA Organization works to increase science and agriculture education opportunities for students across the country. The Texas FFA Association and Texas FFA Foundation are the largest governmental organizations in the country.
In this episode of the Growing Our Future podcast, Aaron Alejandro introduces Lora Gonzalez Eckerle, Business Development Manager for Central Market. From the Rio Grande Valley to New York City and beyond, Eckerle has built a diverse and dynamic farming career. Her success as a state FFA official and branding and merchandising specialist for companies such as Purina and Central Market stems from the skills she has acquired through agricultural education and FFA leadership development opportunities.
Listen to the full episode with host Aaron Alejandro and Lora Gonzalez Eckerle here.
The future of food
“It really all goes back to earth and soil,” says Lora Gonzalez Eckerle, business development manager for Central Market. Eckerle focuses on merchandising in categories like Healthy Living, Hispanic and Kosher at the store, which she describes as “a whole new grocery shopping experience” to ensure customers have access to healthy food.
Eckerle grew up in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, where her father, who has a Masters in Plant and Soil Sciences, taught her the importance of agriculture from an early age. As a high school student, she was active in her FFA chapter: Raising Pigs and Oxen, Engaging in Citrus Production, and “Driving” at Mechanics. Eckerle initially pursued veterinary science at Texas A&M and later in Grenada before realizing her passion was food.
make movements
As her farming career blossomed, Eckerle moved from Southern California to New York City to Colorado and beyond—always ready to pack her bags and hop on a plane or bus to seize an opportunity. In hindsight, she says, it could be scary. “You have such an ‘Oh no’ moment,” says Eckerle. Alejandro agrees that…
