Catherine Barr — Executive Director
Catherine has devoted herself to the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets since 1993. From humble beginnings, the family of four farmers markets has grown under her dedicated stewardship into thriving, award-winning markets. Catherine was selected by peers to serve on the board of the California Federation of Certified Farmers Markets. As a board member, Catherine works with other market managers, growers, and government officials to help guide the organization to achieve its mission. In 2010, Catherine was recognized for her outstanding service to the agricultural community and awarded the prestigious “Al Smith Friend to Agriculture” by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Catherine enjoys quilting, baking, reading, and watching K-Drama miniseries. She is currently taking Korean language classes.
Kay Gatanaga — Assistant Market Manager
Kay has been the Assistant Market Manager for all four markets since 2010. She is the market manager for the seasonal Carmel and Del Monte Farmers Markets. As a second-generation flower farmer in Salinas (Gatanaga Nursery) the family business has been a vendor and MBCFM member for over 30 years. Kay has four lovable German Shepherd dogs and is a Giants sports nut.
June Uemura — Assistant Market Manager
June is Kay Gatanagas’s sister and is the other half of the Gatanaga Nursery team at the farmers markets. You’re likely to find June greeting customers at the Information Booth or assisting Catherine or Kay when an extra hand is needed on busy market days. One of June’s favorite pastimes is watching K-Drama miniseries. The Gatanaga Nursery booth does double duty as the EBT processing booth at the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center on Fridays.
Judy Nagamine — Information Booth
When Judy Nagamine retired from growing Asian vegetables for the farmers markets, little did she know she would be back at the markets in a whole new role! Judy is the face and smile at the Information Booth at the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College and manages the EBT processing and credit card processing for Farmers Market Big Bucks. Her dad, Henry, often joins her at the booth to greet customers between playing golf and crime TV shows. Judy loves to cook in her spare time.
Annaliese Keller — Director of Marketing
Annaliese is a writer, graphic designer, and marketing communications professional who contributes her creative and organizational talents to promoting the farmers markets in resourceful, cost-effective ways. She is the editor and primary contributor to the market’s monthly newsletter and award-winning blog, Edible Paradise, and serves as the project manager, content coordinator, and visionary for the website team. Her passion for the culinary world and locally produced food along with her marketing expertise continue to benefit the MBCFM by attracting new shoppers to the markets each week and creating website content for the MBCFM that keeps the community engaged.
She is the owner of Malabar Trading Company, a Monterey Bay-based boutique tea and artisan product company, and was a vendor with the MBCFM for more than 20 years. In her spare time, she loves gardening, teaching baking classes, creating tea hampers, hosting tea parties, and developing new products.
Daniel Saenz — Creative Director
Daniel designed and developed the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Market’s beautiful and functional websites. He is responsible for the design and production of the MBCFM branding and touchpoints. His stunning display ads regularly appear in Carmel Magazine, Wine and Travel Magazine, and the Good Times. He also serves as the market’s photographer and videographer. In addition to Daniel’s role as Creative Director, he is the founder and president of Artdoor, a full-service design and creative company that is dedicated to excellence in design, marketing, and effective information presentation. To learn more about the design and marketing services of this company, please visit the Artdoor website. In his spare time, you can find Daniel hiking, painting, playing music, and working on videos and local television productions.
Andrew Cohen — Chef in Residence
Since 2006, Andrew has served as the Chef in Residence to the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets and is one of the most popular guest chefs for cooking demonstrations and knife technique classes. As an ardent supporter and a well-recognized weekly shopper at our farmers markets for over 36 years, customers often stop and ask him to explain “under-appreciated” produce or how to prepare unusual vegetables. Andrew writes about cooking basics, seasonal produce, and generously contributes many recipes to the Edible Paradise blog, the companion website devoted to seasonal cooking. In addition to his role as Chef in Residence, Andrew is a menu consultant, private cooking instructor, and kitchen designer. Andrew contributes articles and recipes to several local farms’ websites, CSAs, and other local publications. On weekends, you’ll find him pouring wine and hosting wine tastings at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard.
