Chris Smith

Executive Director

Utopian Seed Project

State: NC

(w) (864) 569-5101

About

Chris Smith is the Executive Director of the Utopian Seed Project, a nonprofit dedicated to crop trialing and the celebration of agrobiodiversity in food and farming. His work integrates research, farmer engagement, and public education to advance regionally adapted crops and resilient agricultural systems. Key initiatives include collaborative leadership of the Heirloom Collard Project, development of the Trial to Table event series, and publication of Crop Stories, a multimedia exploration of crop diversity.

Chris is an award-winning author and educator. His book The Whole Okra received the 2020 James Beard Foundation Award, and he is co-host of The Okra Pod Cast. His contributions to agricultural education and outreach have been recognized with the Organic Educator Award (Organic Growers School, 2023) and designation as a Champion of Conservation (Garden & Gun). He was a participant in the Southern SARE Agricultural Leadership Program (2024) and a recipient of the Appalachian Foodways Fellowship (2025). His forthcoming book, Saved by Seeds (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2026), further reflects his leadership in seed systems education.

Chris brings a comprehensive, systems-level understanding of regional seed production through his experience as a contract seed grower, his work in marketing and communications for a regional seed company, and his leadership in applied crop trials and research through the Utopian Seed Project. He is also an active member of a regional seed collective, providing direct engagement with farmer-led seed systems.
Chris has demonstrated successful management of prior Southern SARE-funded projects (OS22-159, EDS21-30, and LS24-400), evidencing strong capacity for project implementation, partnership coordination, and delivery of measurable outcomes.


Chris's CV can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NFVEjMTdgWTV0nMM3Z3BkaEDt5Vods3EQwxz8--_B_Y/edit?usp=sharing