Trevor Clatterbuck

 

 

Founder and CEO of Fresh Fork

 

by Zarriah Foster, crew 3
 

 

Have you ever imagined doing something that you never expected to do? Well, that’s what Trevor Clatterbuck is doing. Growing up in Wheeling, WV, Clatterbuck said most dads worked at a steel mill, but being a doctor or a lawyer was more professional and desirable.  Clatterbuck recalled,” I was on track to be a attorney, but I’m glad I did not.” Instead, Clatterbuck started Fresh Fork, a business that sells fresh produce, meats, and cheeses in a weekly subscription service.

 

At Fresh Fork, there is no typical day for Clatterbuck. Sometimes he talks with farmers about a product they want to sell, sometimes he works on trucks that need to be repaired, and sometimes he is on the road picking up food. Fresh Fork has been growing every year. Fresh Fork started 40 customers, then 400, 1000, 2000, 3000, and this year they are looking at 3600-4000 weekly customers. Fresh Fork has had at least 50 percent growth every year.

Fresh Fork helps bring their farmers business. An Amish farmer named Harvey has been growing for Clatterbuck for the last 3-4 years. The Amish are not allowed to get married until they have the financial stability to support a family and build a house. Through selling to Fresh Fork, Harvey was able to grow his business enough to get married.

 

Fresh Fork helps families and home consumers instead of restaurants, which was Clatterbuck’s original plan. Clatterbuck wants to continue to grow to make more customers and people in the area aware of why they should be eating local and what they should be looking for. “It’s not enough to just be produced within 100 miles. It also needs to be produced in a sustainable way,” Clatterbuck said. “So if it’s beef, it needs to be 100 percent grass-fed because that’s what’s natural. If its crops, they to be non- GMO.” The best part of Clatterbuck’s job is the reaction he gets from the customers when they are satisfied, knowing that he did his job right. For example, customers say “I lost weight” or that their kids are more healthy and that they're eating dinner as a family.  

 

Another way Clatterbuck and Fresh Fork help people is through their workshops.  Clatterbuck, 28, said he invites customers to come to presentations, such as one presentation about their farmers and one with tips for buying local food. Fresh Fork also had a farm fair, which is a festival in which farmers come into the city and teach people how to garden.

One thing Clatterbuck likes to do on his spare time is cook. Every year before Thanksgiving he makes a big dinner for everyone and teaches them how to prepare the dinner. He teaches the guests how to brine/roast turkey and make side dishes, and he serves them a full dinner. The cooking classes have a maximum of 75 people.