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Nancy Fuller

Nancy Fuller (born March 27, 1949) is an American chef, businesswoman, and television personality best known as the host of the series Farmhouse Rules and as a judge on and . Born in , Fuller grew up in rural Columbia County, where she developed a deep appreciation for farm-fresh ingredients and simple, hearty cooking influenced by her grandmother, whom she calls "Grammy Carl." After graduating high school in 1967, she briefly attended in before returning to to pursue hands-on work in farming and . Fuller is the co-owner of Ginsberg's Foods, a family-owned distribution company founded in 1909 as a butcher shop in , which has grown into one of the largest independent distributors in the state and a top 50 broadline distributor in the United States. She runs the multimillion-dollar business alongside her husband, David Ginsberg, and has been instrumental in its expansion since the , including major facility upgrades and reaching $100 million in sales by 2007. Her television career began in 2013 with the debut of Farmhouse Rules, filmed in her 17th-century farmhouse, where she shares seasonal, farm-inspired recipes that emphasize wholesome, family-style meals. Fuller has since become a staple on as a judge, with Season 12 premiering on November 3, 2025, and Season 11 airing earlier that year on March 10. A mother of six children and grandmother to 13 grandchildren, Fuller often draws from her family traditions in her cooking, as seen in her 2015 cookbook Farmhouse Rules: Simple, Seasonal Meals for the Whole Family, which features recipes like buttery braised radishes and bacon-wrapped organized by . In 2025, she launched an online cooking class series, Fuller Family Recipes, inspired by her grandmother's handwritten recipe book.

Early life

Family background

Nancy Fuller was born on March 27, 1949, in . She is the daughter of a dairy farmer who owned and operated a 400-acre in . Fuller's family heritage is deeply rooted in , with 13 generations of farming ancestry on her mother's side, reflecting a long line of farmers' wives. As an —unusual for a farm family, where her father and paternal grandmother were also only children—Fuller grew up immersed in this agricultural legacy. A key figure in her family background was her grandmother's cousin, known affectionately as "Grammy Carl," who had no children and served as a grandmother. Grammy Carl taught Fuller essential cooking and skills, including various cookies and cakes, instilling foundational values of self-sufficiency and family tradition.

Upbringing and education

Nancy Fuller spent her childhood on her family's in Copake, Columbia , an environment that shaped her practical outlook and connection to rural life. Born in as the only child in a farming , she engaged in daily farm chores, including tending to a large the size of a and assisting with animal care, activities that instilled a strong and appreciation for hands-on tasks from an early age. Fuller developed her cooking skills through self-directed learning rooted in family traditions and the abundance of farm-fresh ingredients, guided primarily by her grandmother, Grammy Carl, whose exceptional farm-style meals, such as chicken with creamed potatoes, served as a model. This emphasized simple, seasonal cooking without formal recipes, reflecting the resourceful nature of farm life. For her formal education, Fuller attended local schools in Columbia County before attending Buxton School, a private in , where she graduated in 1967. She then enrolled at in , earning a 3.8 GPA during her one-year stint, but ultimately left, preferring the practical, of farm life over structured academics. Her early years also introduced her to antiques through cherished family heirlooms, like her grandmother's cupboard, sparking an enduring interest in collecting items that evoke historical and sentimental value. This exposure complemented the tangible heritage of her upbringing on established by her parents.

Professional career

Business and catering ventures

Following her marriage, Nancy Fuller became involved in family farming operations in New York's , managing dairy and produce activities on a farm in Copake Falls alongside her husband, who was a . This return to agricultural roots aligned with her upbringing on a farm and emphasized sustainable, production. Transitioning from farming, Fuller launched a catering career in the during the late 1970s, building a 30-year business that specialized in events for weddings, corporate gatherings, and community functions. Her approach highlighted fresh, regionally sourced ingredients, often drawn from local farms, which became a hallmark of her operations and reflected the era's growing interest in seasonal cuisine. In 2006, Fuller co-purchased Ginsberg's Foods, a family-owned foodservice distribution company founded in 1909, partnering with her husband David to assume ownership after his brother's retirement. Under their leadership, the company expanded significantly, joining the UniPro buying cooperative in 1982 and reaching $100 million in annual sales by 2007, while extending distribution to central New York in 2002 and central Massachusetts in 2011. By the 2010s, Ginsberg's had grown into one of New York's largest independent foodservice distributors, serving thousands of customers including schools, hospitals, restaurants, and independent operators across the Northeast with a focus on fresh produce, dairy, and specialty foods.

Television and media presence

Nancy Fuller made her television debut in 2013 as the host of Farmhouse Rules on , a and cooking series filmed in her farmhouse kitchen. The show, which aired for seven seasons through 2017 and produced 79 episodes, highlighted her straightforward approach to using farm-fresh ingredients, often incorporating family traditions and seasonal themes from the surrounding agricultural community. In 2014, Fuller expanded her on-screen role as a judge on Holiday Baking Championship, Food Network's annual competition featuring amateur bakers creating festive desserts under time constraints. She has appeared in every season since its premiere on November 9, 2014, alongside judges like and (later replaced by ), providing candid feedback on technique and flavor. Her judging duties extended to spin-offs including (premiering in 2015) and (starting in 2015), where she evaluated themed challenges emphasizing creativity and precision in baked goods. In 2025, she continued judging on Holiday Baking Championship Season 12, which premiered on November 3, and Spring Baking Championship Season 11, which aired starting March 10. Fuller has made guest appearances on other Food Network programs, such as The Kitchen, where she demonstrated recipes in a 2016 episode. In 2024, she collaborated on promotional partnerships, notably with the New York Apple Association, creating and sharing apple-centric recipes to highlight local produce on platforms. Through these endeavors, Fuller has cultivated a distinctive "" persona, blending rustic authenticity with approachable expertise that resonates with audiences seeking wholesome, family-style cooking. Her contributions to have helped drive the series to strong viewership, with recent seasons averaging around 800,000 to 1.2 million viewers per episode as of 2025 and establishing it as one of Food Network's popular programs.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Nancy Fuller has been married to David Ginsberg since 1997. The couple co-owns and operates Ginsberg's Foods, a family-run food distribution company, where they collaborate closely on business matters. Their marriage blends Fuller's entrepreneurial background in and farming with Ginsberg's established role in the , creating a supportive partnership that extends to family life. Fuller is the mother of six children from her previous three marriages; this is her fourth marriage overall. Her children were raised primarily on the in New York's , where they contributed to daily chores and farm operations, instilling a strong and appreciation for rural living. At least one of her sons, , is actively involved in the at Ginsberg's Foods, helping to manage operations alongside his mother and . This involvement highlights how her children integrate into her professional endeavors, providing continuity and familial support. As a grandmother to 13 grandchildren, Fuller emphasizes the importance of gatherings centered around home-cooked meals and activities, often drawing from these events for her cooking and television work. The blended family dynamic fosters close-knit relationships, with Ginsberg embracing Fuller's children and grandchildren as his own, contributing to a vibrant household that balances business demands with personal connections.

Interests and residences

Nancy Fuller resides on a historic 143-acre farm known as Locust Dale Farm in Claverack, , within the region, where she has lived since purchasing the property in 2002 for $405,500. The property was listed for sale in 2024 for $3.99 million but was taken off the market in November 2024. The estate features a late-17th-century stone house combined with a Georgian brick dwelling, along with vintage outbuildings, and serves as her primary home, shared with her husband and extended family. A self-described obsessive collector, Fuller has amassed a collection of decor, including milk stools, crocks, utensils, and inherited pieces like her grandmother's cupboard, which she incorporates into her home's rustic aesthetic. Her daily routines revolve around cooking hearty, farm-inspired meals, —such as annually freezing corn from local fields for holiday use—and hosting gatherings for family and neighbors at her communal dining table. Deeply rooted in rural Hudson Valley life, Fuller embraces seasonal farm activities like harvesting produce and participating in local festivals, reflecting her lifelong connection to the area's agricultural traditions as a 12th-generation . She also enjoys community events that celebrate regional and artisans, fostering a sense of local camaraderie.

Philanthropy and community involvement

Charitable activities

Nancy Fuller has demonstrated a long-term commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives in her community through her involvement with the Community Hospice of and Greene Counties. She chaired the organization's annual , a key fundraising event aimed at providing services to residents in the region. Fuller has also contributed significantly to Memorial Hospital, serving on the board of its foundation for more than 20 years to advance local healthcare programs and infrastructure improvements. Her efforts have focused on enhancing access to medical services in rural areas, reflecting her dedication to bolstering health resources where they are most needed. In the realm of food-related charities, Fuller actively supports Bounty, an organization that promotes practices and facilitates the distribution of to underprivileged communities. As a major supporter, she attends their prominent annual events to highlight regional and encourage donations of fresh foods from farms to food-insecure populations. She was nominated for the Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award in recognition of her contributions to movements. Fuller's philanthropy extends to broader rural New York causes, leveraging resources from her family business, Ginsberg's Foods, to aid organizations focused on agricultural and . This includes promoting local producers and tying her professional expertise in to charitable outcomes that strengthen rural economies.

Local contributions

Nancy Fuller has been a steadfast supporter of Hudson Valley agricultural programs, emphasizing partnerships with local farms and producers to promote sustainable farming and initiatives. Through her involvement with Hudson Valley Bounty, a regional effort to expand access to local foods, she has worked to connect farmers directly with consumers and distributors, earning a nomination for the Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award for her contributions to the locavore movement. Her television show Farmhouse Rules, which debuted in 2013, frequently highlights farming families and businesses, such as Holmquest Farm in Claverack and Hudson-Chatham Winery, providing national exposure that bolsters local producers' visibility and economic viability. In 2015, she made a special appearance at the Taste NY Market at Todd Hill to celebrate farmers, further advancing the farm-to-table ethos in the region. In the Claverack area, where Fuller resides, she has contributed through donations and volunteering at community events focused on and . As co-owner of Ginsberg's Foods, the largest independent food distributor in the , she has facilitated donations to local food drives and supported youth farming education programs by providing resources and ingredients to initiatives that teach young people about . These efforts align with the company's long-standing commitment to community welfare, including aid to nonprofits during holiday seasons. Fuller advocates for the vital role of food distributors like Ginsberg's in fostering , arguing that they enable smaller farms to reach broader markets without relying on large corporate chains. In the , her business expansions and media presence contributed to regional by creating jobs and stimulating in Columbia County, where increased interest in local cuisine drew visitors to Hudson Valley farms and eateries. This advocacy extends to brief support for local health initiatives, such as volunteering for hospice events in the area.

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