Home Grown Solutions

West Virginia faces some of the nation’s highest rates of chronic illness and food insecurity. Many of our farmers struggle to access stable markets, while our institutions spend millions on food from outside the region. Good Ground is here to change that.

A person harvesting ripe tomatoes from a garden, placing them into a large wheelbarrow.
Green circular logo for Good Ground, there is a stylized map of West Virginia, a sun rising, and the words "Good Ground" encircling the design.
A smiling man in a maroon shirt and baseball cap holding red and orange bell peppers in a greenhouse or garden.
A young girl with a big smile enjoying food at a restaurant table, surrounded by plates of food.
Illustration of a plant sprout.
Illustration of a a leafy stem with berries.
Illustration of a plant sprout.
Illustration of a wheelbarrow with a round wheel and two handles.

Planting Seeds

We believe that by connecting local food growers to large, local buyers in the healthcare sector we can grow community wealth, wellness and resiliency, while transforming local markets and institutions.

Smiling man in a tie-dye shirt holding a bunch of carrots at an outdoor market.
A woman with brown hair carrying a tote bag shopping at a farmers market where a man in a light blue plaid shirt with red hair is holding green bell peppers and smiling.
Illustration of a plant sprout.
Illustration of a ramp with a long stem and leaves.
Illustration of a plant sprout.

GOVERNANCE

A Cooperative Approach 

Good Ground is led by the Nourish West Virginia Initiative, housed within the West Virginia University Institute for Community and Rural Health.

This USDA-funded initiative convenes a steering committee and project-specific partners and workgroups representing diverse sectors to ensure equity throughout the decision-making process.

Our mission: improve the health and economic prosperity of Central Appalachia by integrating agriculture and health in new, sustainable ways–all while centering and uplifting West Virginia farmers and producers. 

Panel of six women and one young girl sitting at a long table during a conference, with a large screen behind them displaying a presentation titled 'Lived Experience & Impact Stories Panel' and the West Virginia Food & Medicine Coalition logo.

OUR TEAM

People-Powered Work

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Megan Govindan, PhD, MPH, MS, RDN

Portfolio Director and Research Scientist, Nourish West Virginia

Megan serves as the director of the Nourish West Virginia Initiative and views the food system as a powerful lever for both public health and economic justice. With over two decades of experience, she bridges the gap between clinical nutrition and regional food procurement. She leads the Good Ground initiative by fostering "anchor” institution partnerships (e.g., working to ensure hospitals and schools buy from West Virginia farmers). Her focus is on creating a circular economy in which local food is the foundation of community wellness.

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Mohammad Alam, PhD, MPH, MS

Senior Research Specialist, Nourish West Virginia

Mohammad translates complex community data into actionable insights for food security. He focuses on the "spatial" side of the food system—i.e., identifying where barriers to access exist and how to dissolve them. By analyzing the social determinants of health, Mohammad provides the evidence base needed to secure funding and drive policy changes that support food is medicine programs, as well as aggregation and distribution of food across Central Appalachia. 

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Rachel Baker, MHA

Project Manager

Rachel specializes in the integration of rural health and outreach, working at the intersection of institutional and community need while helping the next generation of healthcare providers understand that a patient's "prescription" often begins at the local farmers market. She streamlines the farm-to-institution process by identifying volume needs, food safety certifications, and delivery logistics, ensuring that West Virginia-grown products aren't just an occasional feature, but a staple on the institutional plate. 

A woman with wavy brown hair, smiling, wearing a floral shirt, leaf-shaped earring, and a necklace pendant in the shape of West Virginia, against a light blue background.

Olivia McConnell

Program Manager

Olivia specializes in the "human infrastructure" of the food system. She believes that a resilient food network is only as strong as the relationships between the people who grow, process, and eat the food. She manages the day-to-day operations of the Nourish West Virginia programs, ensuring that state and community partners have the resources they need to move from ideas to impact in the field.

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Nikky Luna, MS, IMC

Senior Manager, Development and Communications 

Nikky understands that to change a system, you must first change the story. She focuses on elevating the voices of Appalachian producers and documenting the real-world impact of local food interventions. Nikky understands that a sustainable food system requires sustainable investment. She views storytelling as the most powerful tool for development—bridging the gap between the measurable impact of our work and the philanthropic and public funding needed to fuel it. 

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Matthew Walker

Research Specialist 

Matt specializes in making the "invisible" visible. He believes that data visualization is a bridge between complex agricultural statistics and community action. Matt transforms raw data from West Virginia’s food sheds into interactive dashboards and compelling visual narratives. His work allows partners to see exactly where local food is moving—and where it isn't—enabling the team to target interventions that maximize economic and nutritional impact.

CULTURAL AGREEMENTS

How We Show Up For Each Other 

Learn More

  • “There is much good work to be done by every one of us and we must begin to do it.”

    —Wendell Berry

  • “To grow your own food gives you power and dignity.”

    —Karen Washington

  • “To tend the Earth is always then to tend our destiny, our freedom and our hope.”

    —Leah Penniman

  • “I want people to start looking at our state with a sense of possibility.”

    —Crystal Good

  • “I have no fear here, in this world of trees, weeds, and growing things.”

    —Bell Hooks

  • “When we control our food, we control our destiny—economically and socially.”

    —Jason Tartt