Laura Shunk

About Laura

(updated 6/2016) Laura Shunk works with the  Beijing Farmers’ Market , The first and the largest market of this kind in China, supporting BFM’s efforts promoting locally and sustainably produced food and products and educational exchange between farmers and consumers, and contributing to a grassroots movement to foster sustainable consumption and cooperative sustainable agriculture.  Prior to her Luce year, Laura was a writer and editor who covered national restaurant and bar industry as well as local scenes in New York City and, occasionally, Denver, Colorado.  Save for a yearlong foray into strategy consulting, she’s been in the food and beverage industry for her entire career.  She has managed national training programs for Chipotle Mexican Grill, sold boutique fine wine, and worked in the front of the house of restaurants.  She has also provided media, marketing and branding advisory services for a variety of hospitality industry clients including fine dining establishments, wine and spirits brands, restaurant-related technology startups, and a restaurant-oriented law practice, both as an independent consultant and as a senior account executive with New York-based public relations firm Baltz & Company.  From 2013 to 2015, she was the editor of the  Village Voice  food section, where she directed coverage and managed a team of 20 freelancers.  Passionate about all aspects of the food community, Laura studied global food politics at Claremont McKenna College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She sits on the board of directors for the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of impoverished communities and food banks in New York City.