Freshlist Welcomes New Leadership to Power Our Next Chapter
We’re excited to share two major leadership milestones that will shape Freshlist’s next chapter, strengthen our foundation, and position us to realize our long-term vision.
Welcoming Our New CEO: Anthony Mirisciotta
We’re thrilled to officially welcome Anthony Mirisciotta as Freshlist’s new CEO!
Anthony brings over 15 years of national food systems leadership to Freshlist, with a track record of launching and scaling mission-driven organizations that strengthen local agriculture, connect communities, and increase access to fresh food. His return to the Carolinas is both a personal and professional homecoming.
Prior to Freshlist, Anthony served as the founding Executive Director of Spring Creek Food Hub in Arkansas, where he led statewide programs supporting small and underserved farmers, expanded wholesale access, and scaled infrastructure to meet growing demand — helping position food hubs for long-term success.
His career spans both coasts and includes serving as General Manager of GrowFood Carolina in Charleston, SC, where he helped guide the hub through the pandemic and into a stronger, more resilient future.
In recognition of his national leadership, he was appointed to the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee in 2022, representing food hubs across the country.
Anthony’s deep understanding of regional food systems, operational excellence, and passion for local farmers align perfectly with Freshlist’s vision for the future. We’re excited for the strategic insight and energy he brings to this next phase of our growth.
Shelby Baker: Building the Future as Director of Technology
Several months ago, we took a pivotal step toward reigniting our founding vision by bringing on Shelby Baker as our first Director of Technology.
Freshlist began in 2014 as a technology startup. When our early tech ambitions fell short, we pivoted to launch Charlotte’s first food hub. With the help of our first three employees — Erin Bradley, Gigi Lytton, and Matt Martin — we grew that hub from the ground up into a trusted partner for farmers, chefs, home consumers, and food hubs across the region.
I’ve always kept that original tech vision close, and last summer, when I met Shelby, it was immediately clear she shared that same passion for building tools to strengthen local food systems.
Shelby brings a rare blend of product leadership, technical skill, and firsthand local food experience. Over the years, she’s worn nearly every hat — from procurement and warehouse ops to customer support and HR. Prior to joining Freshlist, she helped propel Farm to People into one of NYC’s premier local food home delivery services and led their transition to a custom-built headless tech stack tailored to the realities of local food.
Since joining our team, her impact has been felt within our operations and across our wider network of peer food hubs. Shelby's leadership is helping to chart Freshlist Tech’s ambitious course forward, bringing new clarity and purpose to the road ahead.
What This Means for Me — and What’s Next
With Anthony leading hub operations and Shelby driving our technology initiatives, I’ll be shifting more of my focus toward Freshlist’s tech future and further advancing our founding vision: leveraging technology to cultivate a better food system. This structure ensures we continue to attract, empower, and cultivate passionate people who care deeply about this work.
Freshlist has always been a team effort, and I’m deeply grateful to my original cofounders — Josh Cochran, who continues to support our technology strategy, and Brad Chapman, whose early contributions remain foundational — as well as our incredible hub operations team: Andy Hickling, Alex Lemley, Carolyn Edwards, Burke Whaley, Eric Abarelli, Zoe Freeman, and Dani Rowland, whose dedication makes every milestone possible.
The road ahead is exciting, and the best is yet to come.
Jesse Leadbetter
Cofounder, Freshlist
