Route 9 Co-Op Chestnut Roots with Amy Miller

Route 9 Co-Op chestnut roots

Join host Melanie Jones as she sits down with Amy Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Route 9 Co-Op, to trace how a life in chestnuts begins. This conversation explores Route 9 Co-Op chestnut roots, family legacy, and what it means to build a durable career in specialty crops.

Growing up on a chestnut tree farm

First, Amy shares her upbringing on a chestnut tree farm in Appalachian Ohio. She talks about daily life in the orchard and the rhythms of planting and harvest. Her story shows how growing up around trees shaped her sense of time. It also shaped her long-term commitment to land and community. As a result, her childhood experience still guides her work in agriculture and food systems.

Culture, community, and research

Next, Amy describes a culturally diverse childhood shaped by a large Amish community and academic parents who worked in specialty crop research. She explains how those two worlds met at the kitchen table and in the field. This blend of hands-on work, science, and community values helped her see farming as both a livelihood and a long-term responsibility.

Sustainability as a family thread

Meanwhile, Amy reflects on her family’s dedication to environmental and economic sustainability. She shares how conversations about soil health, tree genetics, and markets were part of normal family life. Because of that, those early lessons now guide her decisions at Route 9 Co-Op. They influence everything from grower support to product development and risk management.

From family farm to cooperative leadership

Finally, you will see how Route 9 Co-Op chestnut work and Amy’s leadership grow directly out of her childhood on a chestnut farm. You will also hear how her future plans aim to support more growers, strengthen regional markets, and keep the next generation of chestnut farmers in the game. For more details, visit www.route9cooperative.com

Greg Miller at Route 9 Cooperative – Field Notes From The Farm