Rooted in Local.

Driven by Impact.

🌱 About Me

Hi, I’m Melissa Motejunas — the founder (and sole force!) behind Red Root Collaborative.

I’ve spent the past decade deep in the trenches of local food systems — building relationships with farmers and producers, institutional buyers, food banks, schools, and policymakers across New England. From procurement strategy to cold storage solutions, from USDA bids to school taste tests, I’ve seen firsthand how good food can change lives — and how hard it can be to move that food from field to fork.

I created Red Root to be a practical, people-first consulting service for farms, food hubs, and institutions trying to make local work. Whether you need help navigating funding, scaling up for wholesale, building a toolkit, or getting that product into schools, I’m here to roll up my sleeves and figure it out with you.

I believe in solutions that are collaborative, creative, and equity-driven. And I believe local food shouldn't be a luxury — it should be part of how we feed, fund, and sustain our communities year-round.

Let’s grow something good together.

Why Work With Me?

  • 10+ years in local procurement & institutional sales

  • Mission-first and values-driven

  • Real-world food system experience

  • Grounded in policy, logistics, and storytelling

  • Trusted by schools, hospitals, farms, food banks, buyers & advocates

  • Flexible for any size business or institution

  • Real-world solutions. No fluff.