Jaclyn Rutigliano Hometown Flower Company Jaclyn Rutigliano is the founder and CEO of Hometown Flower Collective, a Long Island-based sustainable floral design studio and pop-up flower truck. After 15+ years working as a publicist and branding/marketing expert, working with start-ups, non-profits, travel companies, and more, she started designing flowers as a form of stress relief, giving her a way to reconnect with nature and have a method of creative expression. It was then that she realized she had inherited the “floral gene, following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents as a third generation florist. Having previously worked with the slow fashion movement, she applied her learnings about ethical and sustainable sourcing and responsible business and became committed to launching a sustainable floral design studio, exclusively working with locally-grown flowers. She launched Hometown Flower Co. alongside her husband, Marc Iervolino, on Mother’s Day 2019, the biggest day of the year for flowers, with a commitment to changing the status quo of our expectations for and relationship with flowers.   Watermelon, Mint, and Cashew Chevre Salad 1 medium seedless watermelon, cut into 1” cubes 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar Juice of ½ a lemon 2 Tbs olive oil salt and pepper 2 packages of Miyoko’s Creamery Herbs de Provence Cashew Cheese, cut into small cubes ½ red onion, chopped 1 medium bunch of mint, chopped Directions 1. Cut up the watermelon into 1” cubes. Drain in colander for ½ hour with a bowl underneath (this way, you can drink the juice!) 2. Whisk together the white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice in a bowl. 3. Mix the watermelon, cashew cheese, onion, and mint in a large bowl. Chill in refrigerator. 4. Drizzle with dressing, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and toss right before serving.