Phil Meldrum has played an integral role in the development and expansion of the specialty food industry, including retail, importing, and national distribution, for more than three decades. Phil’s identification of America’s burgeoning desire for healthful, authentic, responsibly produced Mediterranean food helped plant the early seeds of FOODMatch, the company he founded in 1996. A producer and importer of Mediterranean specialty olives, antipasti and ingredients, FOODMatch builds working partnerships with agricultural communities in an effort to preserve traditional farming practices while supporting generations of skilled growers. FOODMatch is an industry leader in the US Specialty Food category, supplying more than 500 items from 15 countries to a broad set of customers from Fortune 500 national grocers, to regional specialty stores, to multi-unit foodservice operators, to independent restaurants. Phil serves on several boards in addition to The Sylvia Center, including Oldways and the Hunterdon Land Trust. Phil has also served as a delegate for the U.S. Department of State’s Global Entrepreneurship Program on two missions, one in Greece and one in Portugal, mentoring local entrepreneurs and enabling the next generation of purposeful business leaders.