Almost two years ago, Marly Surena-Llorens, the flower farmer behind Allentown-based Fenimore & Rutland, reached out to me with a pitch for Lehigh Valley Style to feature the area's growers. Marly rattled off the names of nearly a dozen local operations—all women-run—that are devoted to supplying our area with gorgeous blooms and greenery. Instantly, we were in. But because our team works so far in advance, and photographing these farmers during the right season (when their flowers were in bloom!) was of the utmost importance, it took about 23 months to bring this feature to fruition. Now that it's finally here, we're so proud to showcase 10 of the Lehigh Valley's flower farmers who work hard to support our local ecosystem. Where do your flowers come from? Know the answer to this question. Consider developing a relationship with a local farmer versus a faceless international company. Turn to pg. 38 to learn about the journeys of the Valley's local flower farmers and discover their offerings!
Then, hear from David Robertson, the founder of Joshway, on pg. 33. David is sharing the personal story behind his nonprofit foundation's powerful mission, which inspires the next generation of young artists.
Go inside Meli European Taverna in Easton on pg. 92, snag Nkasso chef Habiba Diaby's recipe for Le Poisson Braisé on pg. 90, discover five local cocktails with mezcal on pg. 36 and so much more in this edition.
