Melissa Sumner
Podcasts > Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates
Each week, on CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Christina Cates - a seasoned foodie who has worked at some of the New York City's top restaurants, will share her passion for the culinary world. Whether you're a professional chef, a restaurant enthusiast, or a lover of good food, Christina dives into the heart of hospitality - exploring the trends, triumphs, and challenges facing the food service profession...And you won't want to miss her chats with some of the most interesting and influential industry voices. CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Sunday nights, at 9PM... exclusively on AM 970 The Answer.
Monday, July 14, 2025
On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes in Melissa Sumner of Sumner Farms in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Alongside her husband Ian and their four children, Melissa ditched a conventional career path to pursue a life rooted in regenerative agriculture - a method of farming that restores soil health, increases biodiversity, and works in harmony alongside nature.
Sumner Farms isn't just raising animals and growing food; they are also cultivating a philosophy of slow and intentional living touching everything from parenting and homeschooling to land stewardship and food choices. In a country where more conventional farming methods is the norm, regenerative agriculture offers a hopeful alternative to depleting land and a heavy reliance on synthetic inputs. It's one that heals the soil, improves water retention, and produces food with greater nutritional and ethical value.
Tonight's episode is sure to challenge how you think about farming, the future, and the food you eat in the present.
