Meet Taryn Mohler

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taryn Mohler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taryn below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Taryn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I attribute my strong work ethic to the example set by my parents and the guidance of my mentors. My dad, a finish carpenter, was incredibly detail-oriented, hardworking, and resourceful, with a natural talent for drafting plans and tackling every handyman project. My mom is a retired teacher and has always been deeply passionate about helping kids grow, persevere, and succeed. She poured her heart into her work, always going above and beyond, treating her students like family.

I’ve also been fortunate to have mentors who emphasized the importance of hard work, honesty and grit, and never taking shortcuts. My husband is one of the hardest-working individuals I know, and together we put our all into our jobs, parenting, marriage, and our horse ranch. We believe in treating everyone with respect and creating an environment that’s positive and uplifting—a place where people want to be.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

A little about me: I grew up in this county and have always been passionate about agriculture and community. As the Director of Operations at Harvestly, I have the privilege of working with nearly 100 local farmers and food producers, as well as our community customers. My role involves ensuring everything runs smoothly, from customer orders placed online to coordinating the aggregation, packaging, and delivery of items to their doorsteps. I handle all the behind-the-scenes communication and logistics that make this possible.

I love seeing small vendors grow their businesses and thrive through our marketplace while providing our community with the best local food to support a deliciously healthy lifestyle.

The most exciting news for Harvestly is our recent receipt of substantial federal funding through a program called Farms Together. Initially, it felt too good to be true for us, our farmers, and the food bank, but it’s real! With this funding, Harvestly can now purchase fresh produce directly from small to mid-sized local farmers, including BIPOC farmers, at fair market value. This fresh produce is then donated to our local food bank, directly benefiting those in need. This program creates a wonderful cycle of support: we help our farmers grow their businesses, strengthening the local economy and farming community, while also giving back to the community through nutritious food donations. One farmer shared, “This opportunity is a huge help to me, and the timing couldn’t have been better. I’m really excited about it—it’s a big deal.”

Harvestly is more than just a marketplace; it’s a community-driven movement that supports our local economy and ensures everyone has access to high-quality, nutritious food. Together, we’re making a difference, one delivery at a time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that have had the greatest impact on my growth are embracing risks, delivering exceptional customer service, and always following up with people—whether they’re customers or vendors. When I took on the role at Harvestly, I had never worked for a nonprofit before, and then I found myself running one. It was a leap of faith, but looking back two years later, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

We’ve put in a lot of effort to build a customer service system that goes above and beyond, ensuring that every customer feels heard and appreciated. We truly have the best customers. And lastly, following up is crucial. People get busy, and sometimes they just need a check-in or a reminder.

One piece of advice I’d give to someone starting out is to keep track of everyone they’ve connected with. It gives you a way to revisit and reconnect with those people or businesses, fostering a community where everyone feels valued.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Our biggest challenge right now is not being able to accept EBT, which we’re actively working to resolve. A key part of our mission is ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the food we offer. Being close to Cal Poly SLO, we know that students would love to shop through Harvestly and have food delivered to their residences. We also want to reach other important demographics, including the elderly and shut-ins, those living in food deserts, and individuals who rely on EBT. Addressing this issue is a significant task and one of our top priorities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.harvestly.org
• Instagram: @harvestlymarket
• Facebook: @harvestly
• Yelp: Harvestly

Image Credits

Harvestly