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 holds a M.S. in Sustainable Food Systems from Arizona State University and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. Originally from Peru, she developed her passion for agriculture while studying at the Agrarian National University in Lima. Her professional experience spans community engagement, sustainable agriculture, and food systems work across Japan, Connecticut, and California. Prior to this role, Maria led farmer-centered technical assistance through CAFF’s Small Farm Tech Hub and UC ANR’s Climate-Smart Agriculture program.