 John W. Silveira , Director
John is the Director of the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association. He joined PCFMA as a Market Manager in 1992, became Operations Director two years later, and took on the position of Director in 1999.
Prior to joining PCFMA, John sold in farmers' markets for a farmer from Dinuba, worked as an air traffic controller, and served in the US Navy.
Alison Abbors , Regional Manager
Ali Abbors joins PCFMA directly from her Master’s of Science program in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, where her coursework focused on Sustainable Food Systems and Ecology. Along with her work in non-profit administration, Ali brings experience as a hands-on farming and gardening/environmental educator with elementary, secondary and university students in California, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico. A Bay Area native, Ali is passionate about cultivating food security in her community by improving access to healthy foods and supporting California family farmers.
Kelly Blondin , Market Manager
Growing up in Northern Michigan's bountiful farm country, Kelly enjoyed picking wild berries, hunting for mushrooms, eating vegetables out of her family's garden, gleaning from the neighbors' asparagus field, and frequenting the local farmers' market for sweet corn and cherries. Her love of local, fresh farm food was cultivated at an early age and has never left her heart. She attended high school in Carlsbad, CA and then studied psychology at Harvard College in Cambridge, MA. After graduating, she moved to Half Moon Bay, CA where she served in the AmeriCorps coordinating a garden-based nutrition education program for elementary school children. She currently lives in San Francisco.
Kelly joined PCFMA in April, 2009 and is thrilled to support local farmers, sustainable agriculture and well-nourished communities. Her favorite fruits are cherries, apples and blueberries; her favorite vegetables are Brussels sprouts and asparagus; and her favorite days are market days!
Kristy Bohnet , Promotions Coordinator
Kristy was born and raised in Fallbrook, CA, the Avocado Capital of the World. After graduating high school she attended the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, where she majored in advertising and received minors in English, history, and theatre. Two days after graduation she packed up her car, kissed Lincoln goodbye, and headed west on the I-80 until she reached Berkeley. She worked as a Sales and Marketing Assistant for a small, independent book publisher before joining PCFMA as a Promotions Coordinator. Kristy is excited to be part of a company that educates the public on the importance of buying local produce and supporting our community’s farmers. In her spare time she enjoys gallivanting across the Bay Area with her friends and taking care of her bratty cat, Ollie.
Carle Brinkman , Regional Manager
Carle’s been with PCFMA since 2005, first as a Market Manager and now as a Regional Manager overseeing farmers' markets in Alameda and San Joaquin counties. She is also a Board Member of the California Small Farm Conference. She has been an urban beekeeper for over a year.
Heather Campbell , Market Manager
Heather Campbell is a new addition to PCFMA. As a manager in the Contra Costa area, she will utilize her past experience in customer service and event management, while sharing her enthusiasm for the farmers' markets. Originally from the rural Midwest, Heather appreciates the role local farmers play in our society and is delighted to work with them to promote fresh local produce.
James Cochran , Market Manager
James Cochran has been with PCFMA since August of 2007. His experience with them has taken him to markets throughout the bay area. Prior to working with Pacific Coast, James was a Market Manager for Urban Village Farmers' Market Association at the Temescal and Old Oakland Farmers' Markets. While earning his undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio), James realized the importance of a healthy food system to the nation's overall health, safety, and sustainability. He hopes that, by improving the connections between small, rural farmers and urban customers, farmers' markets will continue to take those small steps toward a healthier, more sustainable food system. He encourages everyone to try to eat more seasonally, especially during the winter!
Thomas Dorn , Market Manager
Thomas grew up in Antioch and attended Tracy High, joined the FFA and also took an Animal Husbandry course on ag animals. In the late 80's his family moved to Modesto and they lived off Kansas Ave near all the orchards. He attended college for short period at Delta College in Stockton and also attended Brookdale College in Lincroft New Jersey. He joined Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association in July of 2001.
Robert Foster , Market Manager
Luisa Garrett , Market Manager
Luisa recently completed her bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science at San Jose State University, and is currently completing her internship with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. Her interest in ensuring access to fresh, healthful, locally grown produce has informed her community involvement in groups such as Healthy Silicon Valley Foodways, where she serves as co-chair and participates in the ongoing project of creating a foodshed assessment for the Silicon Valley area.
She has managed markets for PCFMA for two years, and believes that the small farmers and producers have a crucial role to play in creating the kind of local economy and community that will support health, wellness, and social equity for all members of our Bay Area neighborhoods.
Elizabeth Howe , Regional Manager
Elizabeth grew up in Berkeley. During high school, she spent summers working on an organic family farm and grew to appreciate the act of growing food and gained an understanding of how our food system works. This led her to UC Santa Cruz where she got her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and agroecology. After riding her bicycle across the country, starting an urban agriculture nursery and working in San Francisco's Botanical Garden, she decided to head to overseas for graduate studies. In September, she finished her Masters of Science in Ethnobotany at the University of Kent in England. During her Masters research she traveled all over Northern California, visiting farms and documenting the decline of California's historic crop varieties and the current state of our local food system. She started with PCFMA in February 2009 and is the Regional Manager for San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Ron Jackson , Market Manager
Ron first joined PCFMA in 2000 as the Assistant Manager of the Jack London Square Farmers' Market. In 2009 he decided to join PCFMA full-time and now manages markets in both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
Alex Kane , Promotions Coordinator
Alex was born and raised in San Jose, with an insatiable appetite for California fruits few can match. He attended the University of Arizona, where he received his BFA in visual communications in 2007. During his time as a Wildcat, he excelled as a 5-year member and leader of the Men’s Water Polo team. He then spent 2 years as Art Director at an outdoor advertising agency in Tucson, before returning home to California where he joined the PCFMA in 2010. He is now following his passion for fresh produce, while becoming a true foodie and avid home chef. You might find Alex at the dog park with his miniature dachshund or rooting on the Giants, 49ers, Warriors and Sharks.
Pat Lane , Public Relations
Pat is well-known and much-loved fixture in the Pleasanton community after years of work for the Pleasanton Downtown Association. She now fills her Saturdays holding court at the Information Booth at the Pleasanton Farmers' Market.
King Ly , Market Manager
Born in France of Hmong origin, he lived 20 miles east of Paris. He moved to California in 2003. He enjoys the environment, the staff, the producers, and the individual markets that PCFMA operates. His passions are soccer, music, movies. He is currently working on a BS degree in Business.
Debra J Morris , Promotions Coordinator
Debra hails from Pasadena, CA and moved to the Bay Area in 1999. She has a degree in Arts and Education, worked for many years as a museum registrar, owned her own graphics business, and now promotes farmers' markets at PCFMA by creating printed materials for the markets, provides e-newsletters for each market, and writes newspaper articles for local papers.
Also an avid gardener, she received her Master Gardener certification for Contra Costa County in 2006 and helps provide Master Gardener volunteers for the farmers' markets.
Allen J. Moy , Assistant Director
Allen J. Moy is Assistant Director of PCFMA with responsibilities in the areas of human resources, program coordination and administration. Allen joined PCFMA in 2003, bringing over 15 years of experience in nonprofit organizations
Allen is a native of San Antonio, Texas. He holds a Master's in Urban Administration and a Bachelor's in Communications and Political Science, both from Trinity University in San Antonio. Allen also has a Certificate in Human Resource Manager from California State University, Hayward (now Cal State East Bay). Allen currently resides in Concord, California.
Allen is President of the California Small Farm Conference - a nonprofit organization that hosts educational conferences for California's small farmers and a member of the Board of Directors of Family Builders by Adoption - an Oakland, California-based foster care and adoption agency.
Sarah Nelson , Special Projects Coordinator
Sarah arrived in the Bay Area in March, 2008 and started work at PCFMA two weeks later. Her Special Projects include coordinating cooking demonstrations at WIC and food stamp offices, "greening" farmers' markets, and promoting PCFMA's work throughout the Bay Area. She is also the Executive Director of Fresh Approach, a 501c3 organization that is PCFMA's "baby sister." Before joining PCFMA, Sarah worked as a bicycle tour guide and yoga teacher in Paris.
Tom Nichol , Market Manager
Born in Stanton, VA, his family migrated to Central Florida, in the early 1960’s, pre-Disney when the area was a major citrus producing region. He attended The University of Florida, earning a liberal arts degree. After his college days, he embarked on a series of adventures leading to a phone interview with PCFMA in 1994. He was asked, "how soon can you get here?" ...so two weeks later he was off to California to become a market manager. Since then he's managed a wide range of markets in the Bay area, and have seen many changes in the Association and markets in general. Throughout this time he's enjoyed interacting with a diverse group of producers who are devoted to providing fresh food to the communities that support Farmers' Markets.
Tomas Pascual , Market Manager
Tomas was born in Central America and immigrated to the California at the age of 17. He is the first generation to receive a higher education and to graduate from the university level. In 2007 he received his Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Sacramento State University; and in 2008 he received a Translation and Interpretation Certificate in English and Spanish at The National Hispanic University in San Jose, CA. The major focus of the translation program was medical and legal terms. One of Tomas' many activities during his free time is playing soccer. He also enjoys playing his guitar and passing time with his friends.
Sim Peyron , Market Chef
Bay Area native, Sim Peyron, joined PCFMA in 2008 as a demonstration chef with Cookin' the Market! Fresh off the boat from a 4-year gustatory stint in France, Sim joined the PCFMA family, eager to share his passion for good grubbin'. From foraging chanterelles in the Ardeche Valley to force-feeding burritos to Parisians, Sim's experience brings a uniquely international twist on his educational cooking demos. Sim looks forward to another rewarding season at the markets to promote the benefits of eating raw garlic with loved ones, and convincing children that he is, in fact, a real ninja that can dice an onion in mid-air using only his mind.
Sameer Poudyal , Market Manager
Sameer hails from Kathmandu, Nepal - a land of farmers. Here in the US, he went to Winona State University in Minnesota for computer science in 2003. Sameer enjoys helping farmers and his previous experience as a vendor in different farmers market helped him as Market Manager.
Greg Pursley , Market Manager
Born and raised in San Francisco, Greg has been a competitor in Alpine Skiing, Sailing & Fencing. He earned degrees in Architecture and Engineering as well as acquiring a Building Inspectors Certification in Construction. While in college he competed in the NCAA in Fencing and at one time was nationally ranked. He has owned and operated his own Fencing Academy for over 25 years, and has had many of his students get their national ranking as well.
Over the years he has held many different jobs in a wide range of fields. He has been a painter, carpenter and has worked on contract with the Government as Lead Designer on jets.
He and his wife Virginia have lived in Martinez for the last 16 years where they have raised their 4 children.
Stefan J. Robinson , Marketing & Promotions Manager
Raised in Washington State, Stefan Robinson graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising. He then joined PCFMA as a Promotions Coordinator in 2005 and in 2009 took the role as the Marketing & Promotions Manager. In that role he oversees the development and execution of marketing and advertising strategies for all of PCFMA's farmers' markets.
In Stefan’s free time he enjoys cooking with fresh ingredients from the farmers’ markets, listening to loud music, working on car audio systems, and spending time with family and friends. He is a little league football coach extraordinaire, an avid snowboarder, a world traveler, and deathly afraid of sharks.
Vince Scalise , Market Operations Manager
Vince Scalise is a well-known fixture at Bay Area farmers' markets. After selling in farmers' markets for Tri-Weber Farms for several years, Vince joined PCFMA in 1994, starting as a Market Manager and rising to the position of Senior Market Manager where he was instrumental in the opening of new farmers' markets, while helping to sustain and promote existing markets. As PCFMA has grown, Vince has provided training and supervision for an ever-growing group of Market Managers. He was recently promoted to Market Operations Manager.
He has played Santa at the Concord Farmers' Market, has given lectures at WIC offices and Master Gardener meetings, and is a Board member of the California Federation of Certified Farmers' Markets.
He is a great community activist, dividing his time among several fundraising events and charities like Breast Cancer Awareness, AIDS Awareness, and holiday toy drives. He was married in October 2008 and lives in Concord where he has two sweet little puppies to take care of as well.
Dmitrius Spartos , Market Manager
Samantha Stevens , Market Manager
Sam was grown fresh out of Point Richmond, CA, a gem of a small town nestled in the East Bay of Contra Costa County. She obtained her B.A. degree in Teledramatic Arts and Technology and has a background in television production. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and started her education in one of the prime agricultural landscapes, the Monterey Bay. She worked on films in college, showcasing the farm workers of Salinas and continues to produce films based around community and showing underground subcultures like the Farmers Market. She is very much a foodie and loves to cook, juice, bake, and boogie. When she is not working she is doing yoga, swimming, hiking, or spending time at Spirit Rock. Her other passion is activist theatre and she is involved every year raising money for local non-profits in her community that stop violence against women and girls. She has been working at PCFMA since June of 2009.
Roxanne Terres , Market Manager
Roxanne has completed culinary school at Bauman College in Berkeley and would like to eventually become a local chef. She enjoys working at the farmers' market for many reasons, not just being surround by good food all day. She also enjoys the farmers' market because it brings together a diverse group of people and promotes a sense of community.
Chong Thao , Market Manager
Chong was born in Thailand and moved to California in 1991. Je joined PCFMA in 2009 as market manager. He enjoys working in the field with staff, farmers, and consumers. Prior to joining PCFMA, he worked at his family farm, sold produce at the farmers' markets, and attended CSU Fresno. His passions are modifying sports cars, computers, music, football, basketball, vollyball, and movies.
Mike Thornton , Regional Manager
Max Timms , Market Operations Assistant
Originally from Macomb, Illinois which is located in the heart of the corn belt, Max is a former boy scout and private pilot. After graduating from the University of Illinois in Radio-Television, he moved to California and worked for Longs Drug Stores for 25 years, starting in the stores in San Diego. Later he made training films and ran promotional advertising at Longs general office in Walnut Creek. He has enjoyed working at PCFMA since 2005.
Kelly Toomey , Market Manager
High Flying Kelly comes to us as a native from the Bay Area. This little tumbler has lived everywhere as far east as Antioch and as far west as San Francisco. Now currently residing in Martinez, he is a newbie to the Pacific Coast family and enjoys all the fruitiness that it has to offer. He is an ex-flying trapeze artist with the circus who’s background is fifteen years as a competitive gymnast. His foodie knowledge comes with his restaurant experience where he’s worked his way up from being a server to being in charge of his own restaurant with a staff of 50 people. He’s excited about being part of the San Mateo Saturday market which is the largest market in the PCFMA organization, and he loves all delectable produce that California has to offer.
Ramiro Tovar , Market Manager
Ramiro is a Market Manager working at farmers' markets in Santa Clara County.
Jake Velazquez , Market Manager
Greg Zeroun , Market Manager
Greg grew up in San Jose, graduating from Santa Teresa High School. He loves farmers' markets so much you can often find him selling oranges for a farmer in farmers' markets in San Mateo on his days off.
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