Meet the Board and Staff
Meet the Board
NCGA Board of Directors meets monthly and represents the interests of the membership in guiding the work of the staff. NCGA Board members and staff facilitate member working groups to develop specific areas of our operations and markets. Member participation in working groups is vital to the success of the organization!
Contact the board directly by emailing: board@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
Contact the board directly by emailing: board@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
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Melanie Cunningham, Board President Melanie is a partner at Shakefork Community Farm: a highly diversified, oxen-powered farm using regenerative practices to produce beef, chicken, eggs, turkey, strawberries and vegetables for the Humboldt foodshed. She has been farming in Humboldt County since 2004, a member of the NCGA since 2008 and a Board member since 2018. Instagram: @shakeforkcommunityfarm Facebook: Shakefork Community Farm |
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Lauren Ballard-Riley, Board Member
Growing up in the middle of monoculture farms and feedlots, Lauren was not interested in becoming a future farmer. That was until she met her husband Ino, who grew up farming organically in Humboldt and has been a member of the NCGA since 2001. And so together for the past 15 years, they have grown their farm and family. Raising four boys and now a baby girl not only on a farm but alongside selling produce at the many farmers markets throughout Humboldt, has truly been a great blessing. Getting to know the community through the abundance of farmers markets is akin to sharing meals with family. That is why Lauren decided to accept a board position, to continue to foster the growth and access of ALL NCGA farmers markets, so farmers can continue to provide farm fresh produce to ALL walks of our amazing community. |
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Mike Egan, Board Member Mike operates Mycality Mushrooms, a farm located in Northern California that specializes in bringing fresh and dried cultivated mushrooms to local stores, markets and restaurants. He uses sustainable practices to grow all of their products. Facebook: @mycalitymushrooms |
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Niki Gribi, Board Treasurer Niki joined the NCGA board in 2021 as a community member representative. She has more than 15 years of experience working with non-profit organizations including the Watershed Stewards Program and Food for People, and has been a long time advocate for strong local food systems. Niki is currently working as a caregiver and fruit tree pruner. |
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Chris Moore, Board Member Chris operates Woody Ryno Farm in Dows Prarie. His farm raises quality pasture raised pork and chicken through planned rotational grazing that improves the health of the animal and land. Facebook: @woodyrynofarms Instagram: @woodyrynofarms |
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River Walker, Board Member River Walker and his partner Jessica Brown started Happy Hearts Farm based out of Fieldbook in 2015. Since then the farm has moved and grown, and now operates on a beautiful acre in Petrolia. River manages all the growing and marketing of veggies, and you'll find him at most of the weekly town markets and Saturdays on the plaza, for as long squash or tomatoes are in season. Instagram: @happyheartsfarm |
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Hope Wright, Board Member Hope Wright from hopespringsbotanicals.com is now a board member. HopeSpringsBotanicals has been selling at the Garberville Farmers Market for 18 years and is very happy to be at the Arcata Winter Market. Facebook: @hopespringsbotanicals |
Meet the Staff
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Portia Bramble, Executive Director Portia oversees all NCGA markets, programs and staff. Contact Portia to talk about any NCGA business including our budget, rules, regulations and bylaws. Portia is the primary representative for NCGA on local, state and national policy issues. Portia is a Steering Committee Member of the California Alliance of Farmers' Markets and a member of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Certified Farmers' Market Advisory Committee. portia@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Laura Hughes, Director of Market Operations, Arcata Farmers' Market Manager Laura has been with NCGA since 2010. In addition to managing the Arcata Plaza farmers' market, she oversees market staff and operations at our 9 other weekly locations. Laura is the main point of contact for our market vendors and handles vendor membership in the association. She also manages our bookkeeping and facilitates a number of member committees. laura@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Megan Kenney, Director of Cooperative Distribution
In addition to managing the Fortuna Farmers' Market and assisting at the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market, Megan coordinates the Harvest Box program (a multi farm CSA style produce box). She is currently working alongside other locally focused organizations to for a food hub, which will improve Humboldt's food infrastructure and allow for increased collaboration between multiple aspects of our local food system, leading to an improvement in our region's food security. Megan is honored to have been awarded the Community Alliance with Family Farmers 2022 Farmers' Market Champion of the Year. megan@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Ivy North, Agricultural Programs Director
Ivy has been with NCGA for over a decade. As the Ag Programs Director, Ivy partners with various organizations to connect Humboldt farmers with critical funding and training opportunities and organizes seasonal farm tour events. Partnering with the North Coast SBDC, Ivy provides a farm business program and farm business advising, and in 2022 Ivy will also be partnering with HCRCD and NRCS to provide workshops related to climate-smart agriculture. Ivy is a voting member of the Humboldt Food Policy Council representing NCGA. ivy@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Katherine Nunes-Siciliani, Communications Coordinator Katherine oversees all marketing, social media, and communications for NCGA. In addition, she serves as our Eureka Market Manager for the Old Town and Henderson Center markets, and assists with the Arcata Plaza Market. She has been with NCGA since 2018. katherine@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Toni Stoffel, Miranda Farmers' Market Manager
Toni has been the manager and a vendor at the Miranda Farmers' Market since it's beginning in the early 2000's. She and her husband, Kurt, were "transplants" from East San Diego County, to Southern Humboldt in 1982. After working for fifteen years making maps for a local land surveyor, she decided to devote her time to their old homestead in the hills near Miranda. As Moonshadow Farm, they now sell mainly orchard fruit, seeds, and medicinal plants at the Miranda, Garberville, and Henderson Center Farmers' Markets. toniandkurtstoffel@gmail.com |
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Sheryl Cummines, Garberville Farmers' Market Manager Sheryl started her journey with NCGA in 2019. She is an avid outdoors woman; from mushroom hunting to surfing, you’ll always find her outside. She is extremely excited to be apart of NCGA and continue her work with the Garberville Farmers Market. createnewthings16@gmail.com |
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Jenna Kern, Willow Creek Farmers' Market Manager Jenna joined the NCGA team in 2022 as the new manager of the Willow Creek Farmers' Market. She is a Colorado transplant who grew up in an agricultural community. She has always loved spending time working outdoors and exploring nature. Recently, Jenna started Madrone Gardens with her partner Ryan and will be selling at market this season. Madrone Gardens is a small-scale market garden providing fresh vegetables, fruit, cut flowers and crafts for the community. madronegardens@gmail.com Instagram: @madronegardens |
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Colleen Poe, Assistant Market Manager Colleen assists weekly at the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market. She is a seasoned member of the NCGA staff and brings many great skills and experiences to her work with us. |
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David MacCuish, Assistant Manager David previously managed all 3 farmers' markets in Eureka: Henderson Center, Old Town, and the farmers' market portion of the Friday Night Market, but has stepped back to focus on his bean to bar chocolate business, Chocolate Tàngara. David enjoys being a part of the farmers' market community and is known for his flair and great sense of humor. david@northcoastgrowersassociation.org |
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Argie Muñoz, Assistant Manager Argie assists the manager at the Arcata Plaza Market and provides experienced back-up lead management for multiple markets. Argie also works for Open Door Health coordinating community gardens and sits on the North Coast Community Garden Collaborative steering committee. In her role with Open Door, we are happy to be working collaboratively with Argie on the Know Your Farmer program. amunoz@opendoorhealth.com |
Contact us
By Phone: (707) 441-9999
By Mail: NCGA, PO Box 4232, Arcata, CA 95518
By Email: info@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
Visit Our Office in The Greenway Building, 1385 8th St, Suite 122, Arcata. Office hours vary. We welcome you to just stop by or contact us in advance to schedule an appointment.
By Mail: NCGA, PO Box 4232, Arcata, CA 95518
By Email: info@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
Visit Our Office in The Greenway Building, 1385 8th St, Suite 122, Arcata. Office hours vary. We welcome you to just stop by or contact us in advance to schedule an appointment.