Over the past few months, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) has seen exciting growth, adding the following new staff members to the team!
To learn more about the entire MIFMA team, click here.
Become a member of MIFMA today to help support farmers market organizers, managers, farmers, vendors to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products – click here.
Emily Syrja
Office Administrator
As the Office Administrator, Emily’s work focuses on day-to-day office management and operations and assists staff with programs and special projects. Emily will often be the friendly MIFMA voice who will be answering the phone on a daily basis!
Emily is a longtime Lansing community member who is passionate about equitable access to fresh, local food, and she is very excited to bring her organizational and clerical skills to the MIFMA team. She lives on Lansing’s Eastside and enjoys going on walks (especially to nearby farmers markets!) with her dogs Benji and Marceline. When not in the office, Emily can often be found cooking with friends, writing for blogs and online magazines, and performing stand-up comedy at various venues in the Midwest.
Chuck Grinnell
Market Manager for Farmers Market at the Capitol
As the Market Manager for Farmers Markets at the Capitol, Chuck has been in charge of coordinating and managing vendor relations for the events in 2016, along with other major aspects of the markets.
A lifelong Michigan resident, former business owner in Holt for more than 25 years, Chuck has been the Director of the Holt Farmers Market since it was established in 2008. While he has no personal experience as a grower or producer, his connection to agriculture and farming is in his DNA. Chuck’s grandfather, Milon Grinnell, served as the Editor in Chief of the Michigan Farmer Magazine for 25 years. As the Holt Farmers Market Director, Chuck became a MIFMA member and also served on the MIFMA Organizational Committee prior to starting his new position as the Market Manager for the Farmers Markets at the Capitol in 2016. Chuck believes farmers markets serve as excellent opportunities for agricultural and food businesses to grow and that these markets enrich the health, economy and quality of life in their communities.
Rebecca Peña
Food Access Assistant
As a Food Access Assistant, Rebecca Peña is an integral part in supporting MIFMA’s food access work, including facilitating the Double Up Food Bucks program at Michigan farmers markets and expanding partnerships between farmers markets and SNAP-Ed programs.
Rebecca Peña was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and is currently a junior at Michigan State University. Her passion is working with children, and she is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Communication Science and Disorders. She plans to pursue her Master’s Degree as well in this field. Some of her hobbies include hanging out with friends, fishing, photography and volunteering.
Michelle Gagliardi
Special Projects Associate
Michelle is helping MIFMA to document, report and share information about many different aspects of farmers market management across Michigan. Her work on these special projects includes leading an effort to document why some farmers markets are not yet accepting SNAP and what tools and resources they would need to begin accepting these benefits.
Michelle graduated from MSU in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. During her undergraduate studies, Michelle was given the opportunity to get involved with local food and farming systems. Since receiving her degree, she enjoys living in Lansing while spending time with friends, family, and her small dog.