Meet the Board and Staff

NCGA Board of Directors
​

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
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
​
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.
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
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. 
​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
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
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
Jessica Lovelady | Crazy River Ranch

Jessica is an orchardist, cidermaker, sale manager, and beekeeper for Crazy River Ranch and Cider co. In her work as co-owner/ manager of the 3 Foods Cafe (closed 2014) she got a glimpse into the importance of food as culture and the heart of this community. Jessica sees our local food culture and the work towards food security as being vital to a healthy Humboldt county and is honored to be part of this organization's work toward fulfilling these needs. She believes that farmers have one of the most important roles in society and is grateful to the NCGA for its work in uplifting the farmers of Humboldt county.

Instagram/Facebook : @crazyriverranch

NCGA Staff
​

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 
​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
​
Megan Kenney
Director of Cooperative Distribution, Fortuna Market Manager
​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 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 ​
​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. Beginning in 2023 Ivy will partner with HCRCD and NRCS to provide workshops & events related to climate-smart agriculture for historically underserved farmers. Ivy is a voting member of the Humboldt Food Policy Council representing NCGA and helps coordinate the Humboldt Permaculture Guild's annual Seed & Plant Exchange (returning in 2023!).
ivy@northcoastgrowersassociation.org ​
Katherine Nunes-Siciliani
​Communications Coordinator, Market Manager
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 co-manages the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market. She has been with NCGA since 2018. Outside of NCGA, she serves on the board of Word Humboldt, a local spoken word collective, and enjoys listening to music and hanging with her cat, Charlie.
katherine@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
Hailee Nolte | Harvest Hub Assistant
​Hailee assists with all things Harvest Hub related. You can find her packing Harvest boxes, making deliveries or lending a helping hand at the Hub. When she is not working at NCGA she is usually slinging drinks from her refurbished horse trailer bar, the Pony Keg Mobile Bar. Or probably hanging next to a body of water with her dog, Bleu. 
Mar Jacobs | Assistant Market Manager
​Mar started volunteering at the Arcata Plaza Farmers’ Market in 2020 and now is an assistant manager. She studied art and managed a pottery painting studio in Arizona then went to HSU in 2014 and served in the Peace Corps in China. She also manages a local restaurant, teaches swim at a local gym, and is a strong supporter of local arts, food, and community.
Oscar Mollogon
​Arcata Plaza Peacekeeper, Henderson Center Assistant
Oscar graduated HSU 2019 with a major in Psychology and minors in Communication and Business Administration. After graduation he has gotten involved in our community working with local non-profits, utilizing human centered design to build social equity programs. His interests include Climbing, Dog training, and socializing with new friends and community members. His passions include transformative social justice work through Mediation and sociocratic collaboration, local Transportation reform, and up and coming agriculture development in Humboldt County. Oscar sits on two boards, Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities (CRTP) and Humboldt's County Behavioral Health Board. ​
Breauna DeMatto | Assistant Market Manager
Breauna is excited to support the work of NCGA through assisting at the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market. After moving to Humboldt County in 2017, Breauna became able to pursue her passion for sustainable agriculture and has worked on local organic vegetable farms, community gardens, and CR's horticulture greenhouse. She is also an instructor at College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt, where she teaches courses in horticulture and sustainable agriculture.
James Koch
Friday Night Market and Blue Lake Market Manager
James joined the NCGA team in 2022 and is excited to be assisting in community food sustainability. James is an avid gardener and enjoys all things outdoors! You can often find him kayaking Big Lagoon on sunny days. Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, James has spent most of his adult career as a Sous chef for various restaurants and resorts along the East Coast before moving to the West Coast to explore and create in a new community. James and his partner, Charlene, also own a business they operate in Humboldt County, Fringe & Clay.​
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
​
Amber Novak | McKinleyville Farmers' Market Manager
​
Amber started at the NCGA farmers' markets in 2020 as a vendor, The Cacao Bar. She makes cacao drinks and puddings,  and can always be found at the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market. She began managing the McKinleyville Farmers' Market in 2022. Her interests include foraging seaweed and wild plants, collecting records, and meditation. She loves 
supporting local farmers, artists, and community. 

@cacaobarhumboldt
Jenna Kern | Willow Creek Farmers' Market Manager
Jenna joined the NCGA team in 2022 as the 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
Maija Hixson | Miranda Farmers' Market Manager
Maija began managing the Miranda Farmers Market in 2022. In her free time you can likely find her enjoying the outdoors, whether it be hiking, tending to her garden, spending time with her animals or just enjoying the sunshine.
David MacCuish | Assistant Market 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.  He still assists with the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market when he returns to Arcata from time to time. David enjoys being a part of the farmers' market community and is known for his flair and great sense of humor. 


Contact us

Phone: (707) 441-9999
Mail: NCGA, PO Box 4232, Arcata, CA 95518
Email: info@northcoastgrowersassociation.org
Visit Our Office at the Harvest Hub: 5720 West End Road, Arcata, CA 95521
Office hours vary. We welcome you to just stop by or contact us in advance to schedule an appointment.