Lee Frankel

Temalpakh Farm is a 40 acre vegetable and date farm in Coachella, CA. The farm is owned and operated by the Augustine Band of the Cahuilla Indians. The farm got […]

Yamilet Perez Aragon

Yamilet advocates for small-scale and underserved farmers by working with producers, building regional partner networks, and engaging with government representatives to advance more sustainable policies and programs. She prioritizes centering […]

Jennifer Nuñez

Jennifer Nuñez supports small farmers in the San Joaquin Valley by helping them adopt practical, farmer-led technologies that save time, reduce labor, and open new market opportunities. With experience in […]

Lauren Krohn

Lauren Krohn, MS, RDN is a School Nutrition Registered Dietitian and founder of Sprout & Savor Nutrition, a consulting business dedicated to advancing farm-to-school initiatives, scratch cooking, and sustainable procurement […]

Angelica Sanabria

Angelica works to strengthen and standardize messaging and communication strategies within the California Food and Farming Network. Her role also includes inviting and supporting cross-sector membership while centering racial equity. […]

Dr. Evelyn Young Spath

Dr. Evelyn Young Spath traded her university Chief of Staff title for dirt under her fingernails, launching Amor Backyard Farm on 1/8-acre in Bakersfield—ranked by FRAC as the worst metro […]

Nicole Lewis

I am a Farmer/Health Coach in San Joaquin County. Founder and ED of Ignite Well Within Non profit organization. Along with CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program coordinator for Edible School […]

Victor Rios

Victor R is a nonprofit leader with over 7 years of experience in community health, clinical services, food access & disaster services. He currently serves as the Programs Operations Manager […]

Bryce Loewen

Blossom Bluff Orchards is a highly diversified organic and regenerative fruit farm located in Fresno county. With the continuing assistance of their parents (Ted and Fran) Bryce Loewen and his […]

Justin Miller

Twin Peaks Orchards organic fruit and vegetable grower in Newcastle, California. Chair of CDFA Small Scale Producers Advisory Committee. Vice Chair of CCOF Board of Directors. Board member of Placer […]

Brandon Wickes

Brandon has been farming organically for approximately 15 years, beginning almost immediately after graduating from university with a degree in Environmental Studies. In his 15 years of farming, Brandon has […]

Caitlin Hachmyer

Caiti Hachmyer is a farmer, educator, activist and public academic. She founded Red H Farm, her diversified vegetable farm, in 2009. In addition to building an agroecological farm landscape, she […]

Michelle Duong

Michelle supports institutional buyers in increasing their local farm sourcing. Prior to this role, she owned and operated an online food business that specialized in delivering locally and sustainably grown […]

Yareli Ramirez Ortiz

As the Bilingual Farm to Market Coordinator, Yareli helps foster connections between small farmers and buyers in order to provide access into different markets. Originally from Salinas, Ca (The Salad […]

Sadie Morris

Sadie is a second generation regenerative farmer on her family farm in Tehama County. They currently have a small organic vegetable operation as they work to rehabilitate the remainder of […]

Jade Gutierrez-Fregozo

Jade is serving as a GrizzlyCorps fellow with CAFF’s Ecological Farming team where she will be assisting them with resource development and provide help with Ecological Pest Management and Latinx […]

Rubie Simonsen

Founded in 2014, First Mother Farms is dedicated to regenerative agriculture and fostering a deep connection between people and the land. We prioritize environmentally friendly practices, blending innovation with traditional […]

Jesse Trace

Jesse grew up on a 14-acre farm Northwest of Chicago. Winter visits to California at a young age convinced him he had to return for college. He got an undergraduate […]

Karla Avila

Karla is a regenerative farmer, rancher, and conservationist with two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership. Her career reflects a deep-rooted commitment to building community well-being and ecosystem resilience. Karla’s […]

Cheetah Tchudi

Cheetah Tchudi is a farmer and consultant that has been working in the fields of agronomy, conservation ecology, and mycology for over 20 years. In 2008, Cheetah established TurkeyTail Farm […]

Lan Ngo

Lan Ngo is a garden educator, storyteller, and community organizer. Lan has supported urban agriculture movements in the Bay Area for the past decade, especially within the Vietnamese/Asian-American diasporic community. […]

Rogelio Ponce Jr.

Rogelio Ponce Jr. is a third-generation farmer from Watsonville, CA. Born and raised in the area, he attended local schools and went on to earn a B.S. in Finance from […]

Reyna Yagi

Reyna hails originally from the East Bay where she was first inspired to farm from her time immersed in the urban ag and food justice movement there. She’s been farming […]

Delia Hitz

Delia has worked at small farms and gardens since 2010, including the Huntington’s Ranch Garden and Descanso Gardens in L.A., as the nursery manager. She has designed and installed native […]

Anna Larsen

Anna has worked with food businesses of all sizes for 17 years, doing everything from founding the West Coast’s first CSF (Community Supported Fishery) to developing value-added product lines. With […]

Erica Garibay

Erica supports the Ecological Farming team’s work to expand Latinx farmer engagement and program accessibility. She is passionate about nurturing ecosystem health and community resilience. As a native Spanish-speaker and […]

Paulina S. Hernandez

Born and raised in Salinas, CA, Paulina was motivated by her community and the vast agriculture industry. This led her to receive a BS in Environmental Science & Management and […]

Thomas C. Gibbs III

Mr. Gibbs is a Bison Conservationist. He is the Founder, and the Director of Development for Glimmering Rainbow Bison Ranch Company. In his current role with Glimmering Rainbow Bison Ranch, […]

Layla Aguilar

Layla Aguilar works with flora and fauna to build soil and communities. She was an apprentice in the CASFS program, has traveled around CA making olive oil, managed and started […]

Keely Cervantes

Keely advocates for agriculture policies that contribute to stronger regional urban grower networks and food systems, managing several statewide multi-year programs that support urban ag. Working with partner organizations, farmers, […]

Julieta Munoz

Julieta Muñoz is an urban farmer based in Pomona, CA. Her passion for urban farming germinated out of a love for soil conservation and has become more ardent as she’s […]

Catherine Van Dyke

Catherine works on state-wide agricultural water policy, with a focus on groundwater and supporting family farmers in adapting to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Prior to this role, Catherine was […]

Justina Salinas

Hello! I’m Justina, a passionate Latina farmer with a deep-rooted love for nurturing the land as best I can. My journey into agriculture began in 2017 when I took the […]

Flor Revolorio

Flor Revolorio’s inspiration to steward land came from wanting to maintain and improve soil health, and increase food security in her community. She’s been involved in food systems for almost […]

Estefania Flores

Estefania was born and raised in the Central Valley, some of her fondest memories are spending every morning with her dad feeding calves. Her lifelong enthusiasm for community connections drives […]

Guido Lois

Guido Lois is a filmmaker and communications specialist working in regenerative agriculture. He was born in Argentina into a family deeply involved in the food system and came to the […]

Nina Leigh Faust-Dean, M.B.A.

As the HR Manager with CAFF, I am dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace environment where our passionate team can thrive while working towards our noble mission. With […]

Emily Schwing

A native of the Jersey Shore, Emily Schwing came to San José by way of the University of South Alabama, where she earned a B.S. in Meteorology (2011). Emily earned […]

Charity May

Charity May is the Founder and Principal of Sacred Futures, an advisory practice that guides partners in the reimagining, designing and implementing of governance, leadership and ownership models, sustainable growth […]

Sarah Keiser

Sarah Keiser is an innovative community builder. Through her vision and leadership, she develops and implements community grazing cooperatives and collaborative land stewardship projects for more resilient communities. Under the […]

Emma Centeno

Working with growers to integrate and monitor ecological pest management practices and offer technical assistance

Elliott Ge

Elliott grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and was inspired to work in the agricultural field based on their interest in climate adaptation and circular, small-scale economics. They […]

Hope Sippola

Hope Sippola formed Fiery Ginger Farm with Shayne Zurligen in 2016.They remain committed to showcasing sustainable farm practices while growing both diversified veggies and pastured chicken. They visit school cafeterias […]

Bob Kuang

Bob Kuang operates Bob Kuangs nursery in San Martin where he grows Asian leafy vegetables (Bok Choy, Yu Choy, Gai Choy, Ong Choy and Tong Ho). Bob sells mainly to […]

Miguel Avedano

Miguel Avendano of Siembra y Cosecha Farms runs his own farm business while working alongside partners to tackle hunger in his community. By partnering with local and state organizations, he’s […]

Maria Catalán

Maria Catalán’s farm is located in Hollister, CA, where she runs her family business growing fruits and vegetables for her community. CAFF partnered with Maria to host a Dia de […]

Donald Sherman

Donald Sherman, CAFF member and owner and operator of Sherman Produce Market, grows on about 10 acres of leased land in Kerman, California. He’s driven by his lifelong vision to […]

Ben Hartman

Ben is the founder of Sungold Consulting, a consulting firm dedicated to helping farmers, producers, brands, and buyers navigate the complexities of sustainable supply chains and the grocery retail industry. […]

Maria Ridoutt-Orozco

Maria works to elevate the voices of farmers and advance policies rooted in the lived experiences and needs of small-scale and historically underserved farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. Maria […]

Alexis L Malick-Koefoed

Alexis Koefoed is a California farmer in Solano County. Soul Food Farm has been in operation since 2000. We focus on no till principals to grow olives for oil, flowers […]

Evelyn Ponce Hernandez

Evelyn serves as the Farm to Market Coordinator at CAFF, helping small farmers, especially socially disadvantaged farmers, increase their knowledge and capacity to access new market channels. She is originally […]

Claire Tauber

Claire is from Sacramento, CA and received a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from UC Davis. Her love for local and sustainable farming developed while working at […]

Hector Reider

Originally from Mexico City, Hector fled the big city lifestyle to work on sustainability with a special focus on social development. He has a MS in Urban Environmental Management from […]

Chris Fields Sr.

Chris currently farms at the African American Farmers of California(AAFC) demonstration site in Fresno, California where he grows fresh vegetables for families in the Fresno area. Chris’ full-time position is […]

Michael O’Gorman

Michael O’Gorman began farming in 1970. In 1990 he got asked to manage the first certified organic farm in Salinas, California. Over the next 20 years he helped build three […]

Monica Lin

Monica Lin is a Mexican immigrant of Chinese descent, living and working in San Diego. She is a strong advocate of community based food systems, and against industrial systems which perpetuate racism and […]

Scott Berndt

Scott grew up on a family farm in South Dakota. During college, the farm was foreclosed and sold to a large farming group which plowed up acres of native prairie […]

David Visher

David Visher has been helping small farmers succeed for 30 years. He is serving his third term as a CAFF Director. Visher built a produce distribution company, farmed 60 acres […]

John Bailey

John Bailey is a California licensed attorney based in Salinas, California.   In his legal practice he represents small to mid-sized farmers and ranchers, and a variety of agriculture-related businesses. John […]

Michelle Reynolds

Michelle moved to Sacramento from Central Appalachia in 2004. Michelle worked in county behavioral health and coordinated media and communications campaigns that sought to improve economic and social conditions for […]

Tommy Irvine

Tommy Irvine grew up and resides in Chico, CA. He graduated from California State University, Chico with a B.S. in business administration with an option in accounting in 2003. His […]

Anna Nakamura Knight

Anna is a fifth-generation family farmer, stewarding 80 acres in Southern California. She is the Food Hub Director at Old Grove Orange, the farmer-pioneer in California’s Farm to School movement. […]

Sasha Pesci

Sasha is a PhD candidate in Geography at UC Davis who is originally from Mendoza, Argentina and a native Spanish speaker. Her work is driven by a commitment to equity, […]

Gowan Batist

Gowan Batist was born and raised on the Mendocino Coast into an agricultural family. She studied metal fabrication and sustainable agriculture in college, and farmed in Portland, Oregon on a […]

Judith Redmond (emeritus)

Judith Redmond is an emeritus member of the CAFF Board. She spends her days as a farmer at Full Belly Farm in northern California, and as a volunteer for a […]

C. Lilian Thaoxaochay

Lilian is a first-generation Hmong American born and raised in Fresno, CA. Her family has farmed in the Central Valley for over 30 years. Lilian completed her MA in Cultural […]

Blong Xiong

Mr. Xiong obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and later received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from National […]

Anna Lawrence

Anna supports CAFF programs and staff by facilitating the internal process for grants and contracts. Before coming to CAFF, Anna managed operations and events at a research and leadership center […]

Mountain Bounty Farm

Mountain Bounty Farm is an 18-acre family farm and independent grower located high on the forested contours of the San Juan Ridge near Nevada City, California. We grow an incredible […]

Coastal Roots Farm

Coastal Roots Farm is a nonprofit Jewish community farm and education center. We cultivate healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.  On the Farm, we […]

Cheyenne Stone

Cheyene Stone is a Paiute/Washoe who was born and raised on the Big Pine Reservation in Inyo County. She is a strong advocate for her community through her engagement with […]

Nelson Hawkins

Nelson holds over 13 years of experience in small diversified farms working with fruits, vegetables, gourmet mushrooms, cannabis, chicken eggs, freshwater fish, honeybees, and vermicomposting. In 2018 he founded We […]

Linda Easton

Linda is a recent graduate of the California Farm Academy and is the owner of GullyRumpus Farm in North Highlands, CA (near Sacramento). She raises dual purpose, heritage chickens and […]

Miguel Alvarez

Miguel is lifelong Northern California native (Chico area) for over 40 plus years. While working on his B.S. Agriculture with an emphasis in Crops and Horticulture degree from CSU, Chico, […]