Christa Barfield, the owner of James Beard Award-winning FarmerJawn, who runs a 123-acre organic farm in West Chester, has been hit with a cease-and-desist for failing to register as a charity, writes Isaac Avilucea for Axios.
The Department of State has directed Barfield to stop soliciting donations for the FarmerJawn and Friends Foundation Fund, FarmerJawn’s nonprofit arm.
In September, she received a cease-and-desist letter stating that she could not ask for donations from Pennsylvania residents unless she registered the fund as a charity or offered proof to state officials on why she should be exempt.
According to a Department of State spokesperson, Barfield has failed to register the Friends Fund as a charity and she is yet to take any action to address the issue. Meanwhile, she continues to accept donations through her website.
In addition, Barfield and her company, LifeLeaf Organic Farms, owe over $6,300 in unpaid sales taxes and penalties to the state.
Barfield, whose business provides locals with better access to fresh produce, has been working to expand her footprint. She has been turning a dairy barn on her West Chester property into an educational center and preparing to open a Kensington storefront.
Read more about FarmerJawn getting a cease-and-desist order in the Axios.
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