Melissa comes to CAF with a background in food systems and sustainable agriculture. She previously led communications for Pasa Sustainable Agriculture — a farming research, training, and advocacy nonprofit — and worked with New York City Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability to support its sustainable food waste programs, including the rollout of the City’s curbside organics collection program. She also co-managed small vegetable and flower farms in Georgia and New York after completing an organic farming training program with The Organic Farm School in Washington state.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys playing the drums, dabbling in all kinds of crafts, reading too many books at one time, eating fresh veggies from her partner’s farm, and hanging out with her pup, Margot.