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 agriculture 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 the chair of the Food Innovation Team of the Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Taskforce, serves on the steering committee of the statewide Local Food Advisory Committee, represents MFMA as part of the Sustainers Coalition for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and the Minnesota Grown Promotion Group. |
(612) 695-6587 | Sina W.P., Engagement & Inclusion Director
Sina W.P. is the Board Interim Treasurer at "Roots for the Home," a non-profit focused on guiding youth through nourishing food and entrepreneurship. With 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 the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association, Sina's unwavering dedication extends to the support of farmers' markets 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. |
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 |