Charisse McGill, the creator of the very popular French Toast Bites, got her start at farmers markets in the Philadelphia Region, and now she has come full circle back to that world with her new role leading the Farmers Market Coalition.

Before opening her business, Lokal Artisan Foods, McGill ran the Lansdale Farmers Market for six years and was director of special events at Valley Forge Military Academy.

Her specialty, French Toast Bites, quickly gained a big following at places like Cherry Street Pier and Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Now that Lokal Artisan Foods is running like a well-oiled machine, McGill, who is 41, said that she has time to give back to an organization where she got her start.

As her second full-time job, she is now executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a national nonprofit based in California.

The Coalition serves as an advocate for almost 9,000 farmers markets and McGill wants to help get the word out about all the great work they are doing.

“We want to get their message out there — the work that the Farmers Market Coalition does — because they’re a little humble,” she said. “I think the work that is being done there, like having SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] accepted at farmers markets, should be shouted from the mountaintops,” McGill said.

Read more about McGill in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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