About Us
Red Fence Farm, is a company founded by nurses and run by nurses. We are committed to using quality ingredients and no artificial preservatives while pulling inspiration from personal experiences in an effort to provide healthier and more delicious options for everyone to enjoy.
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I’ve been a nurse for more than 16 years. During that time, I have worked as a Staff Nurse, Nurse Manager, Nurse Educator and Systems Analyst. My specialties include Behavioral Health, PACU, Emergency Department and IT.​
I was born and raised in Jamaica until I was 17 and then I moved to New York. I grew up farming and surrounded by an abundance of fruit trees. It was quite common at that time to have homemade jams, juices and baked goods. My Great Grandmother, Mama Vida, was well known in our community for making and selling incredibly delicious baked goods and other delightful staples.
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​After moving to New York, I have always missed the jams we used to make, especially my personal favorite, guava. Buying jams from the store was just not cutting it, they all seem to be missing that authentic flavor and I am also not a fan of artificial ingredients. I decided to start making my own and began by experimenting with different types of guava and combinations of guavas. I knew I had found the right recipe when my mother tried it and gave it her stamp of approval.
​In 1995 I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to become one of the few and the proud. During my time in the Marines, I had the opportunity to travel all over the country and numerous places overseas. I have been able to sample incredible international cuisine as well as classic American foods from North Carolina to California and everyplace in between.
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I started beekeeping in 2019 with no previous experience with bees. During lunch one day, I bought some honey at a farmers market in front of a local hospital and I was extremely disappointed when I took it home and tasted it. I was so dissatisfied with the flavor, consistency and the weird aftertaste. I decided to do something about it. I went online, ordered 4 packages of bees, and waited for 3 months to receive my packages. I watched a few YouTube videos and began my beekeeping journey.
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In 2020 my youngest daughter Olivia was diagnosed with Autism. Children with Autism can be extremely picky eaters and have numerous GI conditions to accompany the neurological condition. It has been a constant struggle to find foods that she will enjoy, and ones that are not irritating to her GI tract. We made the decision to grow as much of our food as possible in an attempt to provide improved nutrition for Olivia as well as the entire family. It has been rewarding to see her experience and enjoy some of the flavors that bring me back to my childhood.
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I embarked on this incredible journey that beautifully blends my nursing background with my passion for food and nutrition. Using natural ingredients and authentic flavors, our goal is to create delightful options that reflect my Jamaican heritage as well as our take on traditional American cuisine.​
My experience in healthcare provides a unique perspective on the importance of food for wellbeing, particularly for children with special dietary needs. We believe that good food should not contain artificial ingredients or preservatives. Our goal is to introduce everyone to the tropical flavors of the Caribbean as well as our take on traditional American down home staples.
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We are continually adding new items that are in line with the concept of food as medicine. Some foods heal the body and some foods just soothe the soul. ​
Thank you,
Mark