In the Know Upstate, a lifestyle website and digital media company, has acquired edible Upcountry, a local publication devoted to local Upstate food culture.

For the last eight years, edible Upcountry has been at the center of the Upstate food community, walking beside local farmers, chefs, artisans, entrepreneurs, and educators and sharing their stories. “When we launched in 2010, there were only two breweries in the Upstate, no distilleries. A small assortment of sleepy farmers markets were scattered throughout our region, no community college sustainable ag program existed, no Swamp Rabbit Café. Farm-to-table was more of a nascent idea than a reality here.” says Samantha Wallace, the original edible co-founder & publisher.

Since launching in May 2017, In the Know Upstate has been connecting locals and visitors with the best experiences across the Upstate, with everything from a calendar of events to local business spotlights and undercover restaurant reviews. In just 16 months, the site has more than 50,000 monthly page views, nearly 20,000 unique monthly visitors, and 18,000 social media followers.

“When we found out there was an opportunity to bring edible Upcountry into the In the Know Upstate family, we knew it was a perfect fit,” says Stephanie Acker, founder of In the Know Upstate. “Edible will continue to be the hub of the Upstate food community, and ITK will continue to be a one-stop resource for the best Upstate experiences. Together, we’ll be bringing the Upstate new stories, more helpful resources, and expanded services across both platforms.”

For Wallace, it was ideal to find a team of female entrepreneurs who could lead edible confidently into its next phase of life. “Our founders, publishers, editors, designers, ad sales reps, and the majority of our contributors have, by and large, been women,” Wallace says. “Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that a majority of our readership is female, as are our story subjects. It’s in our bones.”

Both teams are excited to make this announcement with the release of edible Upcountry’s 8th anniversary fall issue, “The Women’s Issue”, which celebrates the fantastic array of women making an impact in our food system.

Wallace will continue to support the In the Know Upstate and edible teams through the end of the year, ensuring a smooth transition. “Samantha is the powerhouse who lead edible to the amazing reputation it has today. We are so grateful for the chance to learn from her as we bring the magazine into its next chapter,” Acker says.