Local farmer and advocate for independent farming John Coles died April 4 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Coles was a staple at the Charlottesville Farmers’ Market, where he gave his customers his raw milk goat cheese for free after the state instituted cheesemaking regulations that, for example, required pasturization of goat’s milk before transforming it into cheese.
"That’s unacceptable," his partner Christine Solem said in a 2002 C-VILLE story. "That would ruin the cheese we make."
Even before it was fashionable, Coles also educated his customers on the benefits of buying foods directly from farmers. In fact, he was a co-founder of the Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association.
Coles and Solem, who married last month, ran a small goat and vegetable farm since 1973.
"It was a shock," NICFA‘s Deborah Stockton told C-VILLE of Coles’ passing. "The real food movement has lost a friend."
On VICFA’s website, local food activist Joel Salatin wrote a touching tribute to Coles.
"John Coles was like a rock foundation. Throughout my nearly 30 year friendship with this gentle giant of a man, I never saw his passion, conviction, or resolve waver even for a second," he writes.
"Often, people with more charisma and theatrical oratorical skills than character depth become leaders, but John led by sheer strength of character and integrity. His moral compass ran deep. No matter the controversy, John kept an even keel and a sense of quiet discernment I will deeply, deeply miss," writes Salatin.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Elks Lodge on April 13 at 1:30pm.
John Coles at his beloved farm.