On Jan. 15, the Food Network aired an episode of the Barefoot Contessa featuring Amber Waves Farm, a not-for-profit organic and educational farm in Amagansett, New York co-founded by Amanda Merrow '07. The show "Going Local!" included Amber Waves farmers and their free-range chickens, whose eggs host Ina Garten used in cooking a meal entirely of local ingredients. Amber Waves Farm was also featured on the Barefoot Contessa last season. In the episode "Farm Stand Food," Garten prepared scalloped tomatoes, Cape Cod chopped salad, and zucchini pancakes with food from the farm.

At Hamilton, Merrow double majored in economics and environmental studies. In the fall of 2008, she completed a 10-month farming apprenticeship at Quail Hill Farm. She went on to establish Amber Waves Farm in early 2009 with Catherine Baldwin.