John Boyle Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Market of Choice What are you reading? I’m reading two books right now. One is Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan; her husband, Erik Landemalm; and Anthony Flacco. This is an incredible story about an Oregonian who was doing aid work in Somalia but was kidnapped by rebels and held captive for 93 days. This story captures her fight for survival and well-being, but it demonstrates something deeper — strength, intellect, and overcoming adversity. I recently started reading We Are What We Eat by Alice Waters. I love her passion for slow food, and she is one of the humblest people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. What are you listening to? I’m stuck on “rat pack” jazz right now. And “Hotel Poolside” for my music prescription to get through the winter gray. I bounce around on podcasts. I must shout out “Meaningful Marketplace,” by my friends — and local maker heroes — Sarah Masoni [OSU Food Innovation Center] and Sarah Marshall [Marshall’s Haute Sauce]. What is your must-have gadget? If I had to choose one, it would be my kitchen scissors. We have a couple for various tasks, but nothing says bite-size like a great pair of kitchen shears for everything from cutting up Kalbi beef to getting to the good stuff in a Dungeness crab. My second choice would be my mini food processor. What are your hobbies/interests? Traveling with my husband and friends is at the top of my list. I’m also a stealth visitor to farmers markets wherever I happen to be, whether on vacation, visiting a nearby city or in the local area. And, of course, visiting grocery stores. I enjoy looking at products, trends and ideas we could use at Market of Choice. I also like seeing how the local food systems come together. What was your childhood or earliest ambition? I set out to be a veterinarian, but I needed better guidance. Our family was always in grocery, and I fell in love with the hidden merchant inside. What ambitions do you still have? I don’t have a list, per se. I believe there is still a lot I can do to foster and shepherd the local food systems. On a personal note, I want to make sure my family life is balanced with work and other commitments. I have trouble saying no sometimes and need to remember to share my time and be grounded a bit more. ⁄Downtime⁄ LIVE WORK PLAY JASON E. KAPLAN 62
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