Northeast Organic Farming Association
of New Hampshire
A Voice for Organic Agriculture in NH
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Meet Our Staff & Board of Directors
NOFA-NH Staff Members
Xochiquetzal Berry
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Xochiquetzal Berry is a food systems specialist and certified permaculture designer with a background in culinary arts and sustainable food and farming. In her 16 years of experience, Xochi has worked as a chef, garden designer, permaculture program head, and agricultural educator. Through her life’s work, she has become acutely aware of the beneficial impact organic, regenerative, and just farming practices have on our people and planet, and she is eager to help the food loving folks of New Hampshire develop a resilient, equitable, and vibrant regional food system. Xochi lives on an urban homestead in Central NH with her daughter and 6 chickens.
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Kyle Jacoby
Education Program Coordinator
Kyle Jacoby is an environmental education professional who has worked with nonprofits across the country that are focused on improving our natural and social systems. He has held roles in teaching, support, and program directing for organizations such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), Mass Audubon, The Trustees of Reservations, and Tower Hill Botanic Garden. During his career, Kyle built an appreciation for the impact farming can have while teaching and leading farm-based education programs at CVNP, Drumlin Farm (MA Audubon), and Appleton Farms (The Trustees). He believes farming can change the world and loves getting the opportunity to work with our NH Community to make that a reality. Kyle lives in the Seacoast region of NH.
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Nikki Kolb
Operations Director
Nikki is an organic farming and local food advocate with over 10 years of experience working with non-profits. She has a degree in writing and publishing, and a background in wildlife conservation, experiential education, and universal design. Nikki has worked with NOFA-NH since 2017 and previously held the positions of Office Administrator and Fundraising Coordinator, and Operations Manager. She lives and gardens in Canterbury with her family.
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Denise Rico
Bulk Order & Finance Coordinator
Denise Rico is a NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. She holds degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Design. She has owned and operated a small landscape business in NH for over 20 years and has grown certified organic vegetables for market for 7 years. She currently lives on her farm on the banks of the Blackwater River in Contoocook, NH, where there are no stones in the soil.
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Teresa Downey
Transition to Organic Partnership Program Coordinator
Teresa is a mother of four adult children, an organic farmer and herbalist. She has a background in computer software technology, management of doctors' offices, farm management and local food markets. Teresa has been involved with local food for 35 years, both as a farm hand, farm manager, local food markets manager, farm owner, local food procurement and is an avid foodie. She is passionate about social transformation to a just and equitable world, service to humanity and creating food systems that benefit and serve the needs of humanity and the environment using nature as a guide. She homeschooled her four children. She lives on her 7-acre certified organic farm, with her husband and border collie, growing edible flowers, herbs and producing value-added products from the farm harvests.
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Kathryn Downey
Americorp Vista Food Access Coordinator
Kathryn Downey is an AmeriCorps VISTA Member serving with NOFA-NH as the Food Access Coordinator. She has a graduate degree in Environmental Science and a background in environmental education, volunteer coordination, and climate change education. She has been part of the agricultural community since childhood through vegetable and flower agriculture. Kathryn is passionate about the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and the intersection of social and environmental justice. Kathryn enjoys spending her free time creating art, walking in nature, visiting historic sites, spending time with her cats, exploring visual media, and kayaking.
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Sarah Jensen
Organic Food Systems Intern
Sarah is currently a junior at the University of New Hampshire studying business management with a dual major in Eco-Gastronomy. Sarah has worked in retail, food service, and as a gardener. She enjoys spending her time outdoors and learning about sustainable food systems. ​
NOFA-NH Board of Directors
Julie Davenson
President of the Board of Directors
Julie Davenson served as the Executive Director of Stonewall Farm for 7 years from 2015 to 2022. During her tenure at Stonewall Farm, she transitioned the farm into an innovative demonstration HUB for regenerative agriculture. She now works with the Regenerative Food Network, Southshire Meats, and the Northeast Healthy Soil Network. She holds a masters degree from Antioch University in Organization and Management. She has served in a leadership capacity in a number of non-profit organizations and is an experienced experiential educator and facilitator. She has been passionate about social justice and environmental causes throughout her career trying to connect the issues. She worked on reforming federal housing regulation while developing innovative housing programs as a director at Keene Housing. She is trained in holistic management with the Savory Institute including studying at the African Center for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe.
Karl Johnson
Vice President of the Board of Directors
Karl grew up in a southern New Hampshire farming community and went on to a 50-year career in marketing and advertising. He recently retired as Marketing Director for Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs but is still active in helping the company keep in touch with consumers. Karl is passionate about keeping small family-owned farms alive and thriving in New Hampshire.
Joyce Ford
Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Joyce Ford, and her husband, Jim Riddle, moved from Minnesota to New Hampshire in 2020. Joyce and Jim still own their certified organic Blue Fruit Farm in Winona, MN, but are mentoring a younger couple to take over and buy the farm. Blue Fruit Farm is located on an organic land cooperative in SE MN where they built their own home and used solar and wind energy for many years. Soil fertility, conservation and problem prevention are the main tenets of their organic farm management program. Joyce has been an organic farmer since the 1980’s and an organic inspector and auditor for over 30 years. She and her husband, Jim Riddle, helped organize the Winona Farmers Market in Winona, MN. She co-authored the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) inspector curriculum manuals, the Organic Trade Association Good Organic Retailing Practices, and the certification chapter in Organic Dairy Farming. She has trained organic inspectors for the IOIA and monitored pipeline construction on organic farms, enforcing MN Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan’s Organic Appendix. She served on the MN Healthy Food Charter Steering Committee and other local committees. She has expertise on organic certification, specifically in developing record-keeping systems.
Joyce and Jim were awarded the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) Organic Farmer of the Year in 2019, for their outstanding work in conservation, outreach and farming innovations.
Joyce enjoys hiking, fishing, and helping take care of their 2 granddaughters here in Weare, NH. She currently lives on Emerald Lake in Hillsborough. Joyce has served on a number of boards, and is looking forward to being of service to NOFA-NH.
Ken Koerber
Secretary of the Board of Directors
Ken got his start in farming in the early 1950’s working the family garden. The garden was less than 1000 square feet located on the edge of an abandoned farm that abutted the postage-sized lot in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. It was his job to fork in the annual load of cow manure! Fast forward; after graduating from college (yes, he even kept a small garden in Cambridge, MA during a summer semester) and marrying his wife, he started his career as an engineer working with NASA and military systems. It was at this time that “Silent Spring” alerted people to the pervasive residues of pesticides on their produce. Ken and his wife decided to purchase a farm so they could grow their own food. That decision led to the acquisition of a 150 acre farm in Dunbarton, NH, where he currently runs a cut-flower operation utilizing several hoop houses as well as an open garden. Ken has always been passionate about sharing knowledge and encouraging people to grow something to stay in contact with the natural world. When he retired he took the Master Gardener training which led to taking lead on the development of the teaching garden at the NH Audubon Massabesic Center and the rejuvenation of the Herb Garden at Shaker Village. His farm has hosted WWOOFers for many years and is a destination for apartment dwellers seaking a day in the garden. In his spare time he hopes to complete a post & beam blacksmith shop to finally have his own forge!
LaFortune Djabea
Member of the Board of Directors
LaFortune Jeannette Djabea was born and raised in Cameroon and came to the US in 2000. In 2016 she started Mola Foods with the goal to celebrate the rich diversity of Africa by providing high-quality, authentic products and culinary experiences. With a passion for culinary arts and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, she brings her unique cultural perspective to the food industry, creating delicious and innovative dishes that celebrate her heritage.
Kate Dobrowski
Member of the Board of Directors
Kate is owner and co- grower with her son at Greenhill Farm NH. Greenhill Farm NH is a diversified off-grid Solar powered family farm in central NH producing a variety of Certified Organic fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, flowers, woodland, and value -added products grown in healthy soils with regenerative practices. Kate’s work and educational herstory is as diversified as the farm’s and most recently include a clinical herbalism and nutrition business. She believes that good health and environmental health are synonymous. She also has background as a licensed massage therapist, program developer, retail buyer, electronics tech, decorative painter and more. By far, her greatest endeavor was raising three talented human beings all of whom love and respect the natural world. To amuse herself, she likes to plant and graft heirloom fruit trees, especially apples, nuts, and unusual perennial vegetables in freeform - not rows. Rambling through the woodlot to check on her beloved trees, cooking up a farm to table meal, wearing flannel and making people smile are a few things she finds comforting.
Benée Hershon
Member of the Board of Directors
One of Benée's greatest passions is connecting others with nature and doing active conservation work in agriculture and working landscapes. She currently serves as the Community Engagement Director for the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD). In 2023, Benée took time away from the Granite State to work as a farmworker on vegetable farms throughout the east coast and returned to her role at the CCCD with a deeper understanding of our food system. Benée offers social media and digital communications consulting services for farms, food, and environmental organizations. She is passionate about uplifting and engaging local communities through storytelling, and is thrilled to work with farmers and organizations in this capacity. Benée is excited to be back in the Monadnock Region and to support organic farmers and gardeners through NOFA-NH!
Joan O'Connor
Member of the Board of Directors
Joan O’Connor has a long history of leading and supporting agriculture and farmers’ markets initiatives in New Hampshire. She’s enjoyed over 25 years as the owners of Joan’s Famous Composting Worms, selling at Farmers’ Markets and leading workshops. She served as a Market Manager in Manchester and Site Manager for a multi-farmer CSA. She founded and directed the successful Concord Winter Farmers’ Market for two years, and the Tilton Winter Farmers' Market and the Tilton Farmers’ Markets for four years. In 2016, she worked with NH legislators to bring forward Senate Bill 306, a law which now allows beer and wine sampling at farmers’ markets. Joan spent the first 21 years of her career selling on the road as a Manufacturers’ Representative for jewelry manufacturers, importers, designers, craftspeople and artists. She lives in Henniker, New Hampshire in a one-room, renovated schoolhouse with her cats and worms.
Edith Pucci Couchman
Member of the Board of Directors
Edith Pucci Couchman has been teaching youngsters about both the visual arts and environmental science for over thirty years. She has participated in the Cooperative and Organic Food Movements since the ‘70's because she believes that these are both key for creating beautiful, just, and ecologically-sound human lifeways. She was named NOFA-NH’s Volunteer of the Year for 2012, Hillsborough County Conservation District’s Conservation Teacher of the Year in 2014, and received the 2017 NH Excellence in S.T.E.M. Teaching Award (elementary school level) from the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers. Edith is active in the Greater Nashua Food Council and the NH School and Youth Gardening Network. Her articles have been published in the Canadian environmental magazine GreenTeacher.com and she edits the teaching website evolvingbeauty.org.
James Stever
Member of the Board of Directors
James Stever owns and operates Generation Farm in Concord, New Hampshire. He has been growing and selling certified organic produce for over a decade. James is passionate about responsible agriculture; utilizing solar power, low till techniques, and fostering a diverse 60 acre forest habitat around growing areas.
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James shares a common goal and mission with NOFA-NH, which is to provide his community with fresh food farmed responsibly. As a board member James hopes to be a strong advocate for small organic farms and hopes to strengthen our local food economy by promoting interest of small local producers.
Board Committees
NOFA-NH's Board Committees are made up of Board, staff members and volunteers:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Co-Chairs: Xochiquetzal Berry & Nikki Kolb,
Members: Joan O'Connor, Emma Dooley, Kyle Jacoby, Denise Rico, Teresa Downey, Kathryn Downey
Finance & Quality Assurance - Chair: Joyce Ford
Members: Denise Rico, Ken Koerber, Steve Forde, James Stever
Governance - Chair: Karl Johnson
Members: Julie Davenson, Nikki Kolb, Xochiquetzal Berry
Education & Policy - Co-Chairs: Julie Davenson & Edith Pucci Couchman
Members: Kate Dobrowski, Amy Antonucci, Joan O'Connor, Gene Jonas, Sarah Gilliatt, Phillip Browne, Jim Riddle, Shaune Hickson, James Stever, Benée Hershon, Kyle Jacoby, Nikki Kolb, Teresa Downey,
We're always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our committees!
Please email info@nofanh.org with your interest, and to learn more.
Office Hours
By appointment. Please email us or call to schedule.
Main Phone & Email
(603) 224-5022
Office Staff
Xochiquetzal Berry
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
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Kyle Jacoby
Education Program Coordinator
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Nikki Kolb
Operations Manager
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Denise Rico
Bulk Order & Finance Coordinator
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Teresa Downey
Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) Coordinator
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Kathryn Downey
AmeriCorps VISTA Food Access Coordinator