| Kathy Zeman, Executive Director Kathy started working with MFMA in September 2012. She is also the owner of Simple Harvest Farm in Nerstrand. Kathy has spent most of her career in food farming and brings those connections to MFMA, which has helped MFMA build strong collaborations with diverse groups and has paved the way for successful public policy efforts. Kathy is determined that MFMA achieves its mission and vision of building a thriving local foodshed. Following the COVID pandemic, MFMA earned the national Gus Schumacher award from the Farmers Market Coalition, in recognition of MFMA's work to keep farmers and farmers' market open to grow food and feed their communities. Kathy brings MFMA leadership to numerous groups:
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(612) 695-6587 | Sina War, Engagement & Inclusion Director Sina War has extensive experience as the former Market Manager and Director of Programs & Partnerships at Minneapolis Farmers' Market. Sina excels in enhancing food access, community engagement, and effective communication. She played a key role in overseeing Minnesota's largest farmers' market, fostering interactions between farmers and vendors, and promoting local, sustainable food. As the Engagement & Inclusion Director at MFMA, Sina's unwavering dedication extends to the support of farmers' markets, food hubs and small-scale farmers. She actively forges creative partnerships that embrace diverse communities within Minnesota's agricultural landscape. Sina's responsibilities encompass not only raising consumer awareness, providing educational opportunities, and advocating for sustainable and equitable food systems but also fostering inclusive collaborations that enrich the agricultural community. Sina is currently leading on: |
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Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly is the Farmers’ Market Economic Opportunity VISTA at SMIF working with the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association. She is working on a special a survey to capture data from farmers’ markets and the local food economy while supporting Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts. Every five years the Minnesota Department of Agriculture conducts a survey, collecting agriculture statistics in the state. These surveys usually target large commodity farmers, unintentionally excluding small-scale and BIPOC producers and markets. By conducting a separate survey, we hope to support markets that are under-represented, demonstrating the positive financial and social impacts local food systems provide. Gathering this information will also put us in a better position to create programming to support more sustainable, inclusive, and financially sound local food economies. Maeve is ecstatic about the chance to work on such a collaborative and human focused project. Originally from Indiana, she spent the last two years in Paraguay as a Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer while completing her masters degree in Sustainable Development. She is passionate about the impact sustainable agriculture has on climate justice, rural economic growth, and public health and is excited to learn about and support the local food system in southern Minnesota. |
(574) 310-5553 |
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MFMA provides services, programs, and leadership that support and promote farmers' markets
across Minnesota and our Tribal Nations.
We envision a community of vibrant, profitable, and professionally managed Minnesota farmers’ markets that:
Cultivates, nourishes, and inspires a vibrant local foods community;
provides accessibility to all to local farm fresh foods;
allows local food producers to thrive and grow.
Director Government of Affairs: Friendly Vang-Johnson /// friendly@mfma.org ///
Director of Engagement & Inclusion: Sina War /// sina@mfma.org /// (612) 695-6587
Local Foodshed Database Manager: Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly /// maeve@mfma.org /// (574) 310-5553
Executive Director: Kathy Zeman /// kzeman@mfma.org /// (507) 664-9446
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association /// 9800 155th Street East, Nerstrand MN 55053
Copyright MFMA 2024