Napa Farmers Market Welcomes 3 Dynamic Board Members

NAPA, CA — The Napa Farmers Market has welcomed three dynamic new members to its Board of Directors, it was announced this week.

Karla Gómez-Pelayo, Imane Hanine and Caroline Wiegardt bring fresh energy, expertise and passion for advancing the market's goals for a more sustainable, equitable and delicious Napa Valley food community, the Napa Farmers Market said in a news release.

"The Napa Farmers Market Board is thrilled to be gaining these new members," said Board President Marilyn O’Connell. "Their diverse talents and perspectives enrich our board leadership, and will help us continue to improve the market and meet our community’s needs."

Karla Enedina Gómez-Pelayo was born in Jalisco, México, and raised in the Napa Valley. She is a first-generation graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the California Institute of Integral Studies. A storyteller at heart, Gómez-Pelayo brings over a decade of marketing experience as a community organizer, educator, and artist. She now leads the Marketing Committee and supports the market’s culturally responsive communications initiatives.

"The Napa Farmers Market brings together my passions for food justice, environment, education, and community," Gómez-Pelayo said. "Our market is an essential service for our entire community, and I'm proud to be joining their efforts to ensure everyone knows and feels that, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Food access and equity affect all aspects of our society's well-being. I hope to continue improving our local conditions through my contributions as a new board member and beyond."

Imane Hanine is a first-generation New York City native currently getting her hands dirty in the vineyard and cellar as a wine educator, hospitality and sales specialist and cellar hand for Matthiasson Wines. She brings to the board 15 years of experience in hospitality and production, and passion for sustainable agriculture and an equitable and just food system.

"Being invited to serve on the board of the Napa Farmers Market was an honor in itself," Hanine said, "but my eyes lit up when I realized it was not only a marketplace supporting the local living economy with an array of small businesses. What inspired me to volunteer was the concerted and organized effort to also serve families – our community members – with food assistance programming and partnerships with local nonprofit initiatives. The Napa Farmers Market sees the ‘whole picture’ of what community-building really means, and what it takes to serve it."

Caroline Wiegardt, a devoted market day volunteer, is the Napa Farmers Market’s newly elected Secretary of the Board. She has lived in Napa for 25 years and shares with the board a slate of diverse skills as a realtor and former creative services manager for packaged goods. She also has extensive involvement with local nonprofits like Feed Napa Now, Citizenship Legal Services, and the Napa Recovery Resource Center, where she is also a board member.

"I love the community spirit of the Napa Farmers Market," Wiegardt said. "I have met so many amazing people volunteering. It is a rewarding way to participate in the local food community, and support our local farmers and small business vendors. The sounds of people, the colors, the smells and fresh produce are something I look forward to every week."