Gary Hirshberg
[1] In his early career, Hirshberg served as the Executive Director of The New Alchemy Institute, a research and education center dedicated to organic farming, aquaculture and renewable energy.[4] In 1983, Hirshberg joined the Board of The Rural Education Center (TREC), a small, seven-cow organic farming school in Wilton, NH, where Stonyfield was founded.[5] Under Hirshberg's leadership, Stonyfield introduced various marketing initiatives aimed at increasing customer loyalty to the brand while promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, and support for small family farming.[7][8] During Hirshberg's tenure, Stonyfield's compounded annual growth rate reached over 23% due to consistently producing products and using marketing that blended the company's social, environmental, and financial missions.[13] He was named a Yale Gordon Grand Fellow, one of "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs" by Business Week, and one of the top ten "Most Inspiring People in Sustainable Food."