The Operator

Edward J. Silva

Edward is the founder and owner of Sunny Acres, LLC (dba Sunny Acres Management). His connection to small businesses in agriculture and food dates back to his youth when he worked on the family farm in California’s Central Valley. As one of six children of Portuguese immigrants, Edward learned early the grit and resilience needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Edward has since built a career commercializing agricultural and food technology, working across various sectors, including livestock, renewable energy, precision inputs, permanent crops, food service, and farm software, both domestically and internationally.

He co-founded a business that developed a solar-powered lighting system for pasture-raised poultry. He also led an initiative at the University of California, Davis, to help researchers commercialize sustainable agricultural technologies. Edward later became Executive Director of an organization supporting agtech startups worldwide, overseeing fundraising, team building, and client acquisition.

Before business school, Edward launched a consulting firm focused on go-to-market strategy for food and agriculture, advising startups and leading an international executive education program for agribusinesses in Latin America.

Edward holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis, with a minor in Technology Management. He grew up in Hilmar, California, and now resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and two children.

Mid-Atlantic Solutions, dba másLabor

In 2021, Edward acquired Mid-Atlantic Solutions, dba másLabor, a company focused on helping U.S. businesses navigate the difficult guestworker visa programs, formally known as H-2A and H-2B visas.

Over three years, he grew revenue by 16.25% CAGR, investing in training, technology, and leadership to position the company for long-term growth. In July 2024, he transitioned leadership and is now focused on acquiring and growing his next business.