Northeast Organic Farming Symposium

Dr. Maryam Nouri-Aiin is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment at the University of Vermont. Her research integrates ecological, molecular, and bioinformatic tools to develop sustainable pest management solutions. She specializes in biological control using insect pathogenic fungi, soil health, and insect–microbe interactions, with a focus on applying these approaches in on-farm IPM systems across the Northeast.

Yoko Takemura owns and operates Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT with her partner, Alex Carpenter. Assawaga Farm is in its 8th season selling Certified Organic vegetables and cut flowers on 1 acre. The farm is on Nipmuc land and is bordered by the Five Mile (formerly, Assawaga) River. They do everything they can to promote a healthy and diverse population of all organisms, large and small, above and below ground, to which they employ regenerative practices such as no-till, multi-species cover cropping, on-farm “Static Aerated Pile” composting, compost tea brewing, and perennial hedgerow installations.

Joe Dickson is a seasoned leader with over 25 years in organic, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture. As Founder and Principal of Lot 49 Advisors, he partners with retailers, NGOs, brands, and producers to advance sustainability and meaningful certifications in food and farming. Previously, he spent two decades at Whole Foods Market as Global Director of Quality Standards, leading initiatives in transparency and integrity. He also serves as Senior Associate at Wolf & Associates and has co-founded Merryfield, a platform for natural and organic brands. Joe serves on the boards of Carnation Farms and Pennsylvania Certified Organic, and has held prior roles with the Non-GMO Project, USDA National Organic Standards Board, and The Organic Center. A Vassar graduate, he now lives in southern Vermont after years on a regenerative ranch in Texas.

McKenna Hayes is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Compliance at Food Connects. With over a decade of food hub leadership—including several years overseeing the Food Connects Food Hub—she brings deep, practical experience in scaling operations and managing regulatory compliance. McKenna provides technical assistance to food hubs nationwide, helping teams navigate food safety programs, certifications, and operational growth, with a focus on expanding access to wholesale and institutional markets. Born and raised in Burlington, Vermont, McKenna has over twenty years of experience across the sustainable food system. She holds a Master’s in Food and Agricultural Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and has been recognized as a Southern Vermont Emerging Leader and one of Vermont Business Magazine’s Rising Stars. Outside of work, McKenna enjoys herbalism, yoga, ice hockey, gardening, and family time.

Helen Atthowe has worked for 40 years as a farmer and researcher to connect farming, food systems, human and crop nutrition, land stewardship, and conservation. Helen has owned, operated, and co-operated with her late husband, 3 certified organic orchards and vegetable farms ranging from 30-211 acres, in 3 states: California, Montana, and Oregon. She currently does on-farm cover-crop-based, reduced tillage, soil– and natural enemies’ habitat– building research on her new 5-acre farm in Western Montana, which is applicable in the Northeast, as well! She is author of the recently published book: “The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture” and has served as a board member for the Organic Farming Research Foundation. Atthowe has a Master’s degree in horticulture from Rutgers University and has worked in education and research at the University of Arkansas Fruit Experiment Station, Rutgers University, and Oregon State University. While farming she also served as a horticulture extension agent in Montana for 17 years, where she annually taught an organic Master Gardener course and ran an IPM program for farmers, nurseries, and landscapers.

Brian Caldwell operates Hemlock Grove Farm in West Danby, NY producing certified organic apples, pears, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. He worked as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator, then became NOFA-NY’s first Education Coordinator in 2001. After 2005, he was field manager for the Cornell Organic Cropping Systems Project until retiring in 2018.

Russell Wallack is Breadtree’s founding farmer. After working in utility-scale energy efficiency, Russell made the jump to food systems work and agroforestry in 2014. Born at the mouth of the Hudson River, and raised in the sandy uplands of the Connecticut River valley, Russell is focused on developing ecological agriculture in service to all life in this region. He believes chestnut trees — an ancient staple food across the temperate world — play an integral role in recreating an agriculture of place; he has dedicated the past 8 years to creating a viable business centered on the growth of a regional industry for this tree crop. He has consulted internationally with multi-billion dollar food supply systems, advised the European Commission on regenerative agriculture policy, and worked with leading regenerative agriculture organizations to impact thousands of acres.

Alby Brandon was raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He started a farming business in 2014 and it has since grown from a half-acre market garden to over 15 acres of vegetable and small fruit crops. He now runs Brandon Family Farm with his wife, Heather Brandon. 

Meredith Melendez is the County Agricultural Agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County. Meredith provides education and technical assistance to produce growers, new and beginning farmers, and organic producers. She is the program lead for the On-Farm Food Safety Team at Rutgers, assisting farms statewide with FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance and USDA Third-Party Audits.