Christina Dowd, Communication & Outreach Director

No stranger to working with non-profits, Christina started working with Fair Food almost a decade ago to handle art direction for Brewer’s Plate. Now she is the director of Communication & Outreach, spending her time strategizing the organizations’ social media & marketing, cultivating membership, compiling information for the Local Food Guide, designing and planning events!

Since working as an Art Director for over 10 years, her professional knowledge spans to advertising, marketing, communications & publishing – but the idea of returning to non-profit work seemed more fulfilling. The mission of Fair Food is an easy one – why wouldn’t you want to support your “neighbors” on land you are close to!

Holly Guerin, Farmstand Staff

Holly joined Fair Food as a summer intern while finishing a degree in Geography and Urban Studies at Temple, where she focused on food policy and urban agriculture.  She also studied a bit with a Nutritionist/Herbalist and believes that food can be the best medicine.  Holly loves plants and critters, and daydreams about having her own little farm some day.   She has been a full time Farmstander since the Fall of 2010.

Ann Karlen, Executive Director

Ann Karlen is the founding Director of Fair Food, launched in 2001 to promote a humane sustainable agriculture system for the Philadelphia region. Ms. Karlen consults with farmers and wholesale buyers such as chefs and grocers to help build business relationships that bring more local food into the marketplace. In 2003, she launched the Fair Food Farmstand in the Reading Terminal Market, a year round all-local grocery store selling products from over 90 family farmers and producers, and providing exceptional public education to a diverse customer base. From 2006 – 2009, Ms. Karlen was a member of the Management Team that helped launch Common Market, a values driven local food distribution business in Philadelphia, and then served as a member of the Board of Directors through 2010. Ms. Karlen currently serves on several non-profit boards and councils, including Philadelphia’s Food Policy Council.

Vikram Krishnamurthy, Deputy Director
Vikram joined Fair Food in November 2012 as our first Deputy Director, responsible for daily operations and management of programs, finances and personnel. Prior to this new position, Vikram served as Managing Director for the Center for Public Horticulture, a partnership between the University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens to support research, education and professional training for botanical gardens and arboreta. His prior experiences as Director of Land Conservation and Stewardship Manager for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (MD) bring a new perspective to Fair Food’s mission and support of local farms. When he’s not gardening, birding or cooking, you can find Vikram strumming some sort of stringed instrument. He lives with his wife Kate and their two children in Wilmington, and loves his commute on regional rail.

Alex Jones, Farmstand Product Manager
Alex joined the Fair Food team as Product Manager in October 2012. With Bachelor’s degrees in Tuba Performance (no, really) and writing from the University of Michigan and a background in arts journalism, Alex has since found her calling as a buyer of all things fresh and local. She developed her knack for customer service and skill navigating crowds while a crew member at Trader Joe’s. Most recently, she spent two years as Fresh Food Manager at Greensgrow Farms, Philadelphia’s premiere urban farm, where she sourced local produce, dairy, meats, and cheeses for a 700-member CSA. Now, she can be found running amongst farms, the Farmstand, and the Fair Food offices to ensure that the region’s best and tastiest goodies shine at Philadelphia’s local and sustainable grocery store.

Caleb Paul, Communication & Farmstand Staff
A native of the region, Caleb is excited to bring his produce expertise to an organization focused on local food networks.        
   
   

            
Peggy Paul, Farmstand Staff

Peggy joined the Fair Food Farmstand staff in the summer of 2011. She is a writer, editor, recipe developer, gardener, and produce peddler (among other things).

After an 8-year stint in the publishing industry of New York City (where she specialized mainly in editing cookbooks and other illustrated lifestyle titles), Peggy quit the corporate life in spring 2011 to return to her Pennsylvanian roots, be closer to family, and pursue a freelance career. When she’s not at the Farmstand, you’ll often find her tucked away in the back corners of local cafés, armed with post-it notes, multicolored pens, and whiteout—making the world a little more grammatical. On her blog, www.anunstilllife.com, she shares seasonal recipes, inspirations, and thoughts about life.

Sherie Ruppersberger, Farmstand Staff

Sherie, a native Philadelphian, came to the Farmstand in the Spring of 2013 after working with The Food Trust Farmers Market Program. She is passionate about Fair Food’s mission of supporting local farmers and increasing Philadelphians’ access to fresh, healthy food. When Sherie is not at the Farmstand, she can be found reading about holistic health and cooking, playing music, and taking plant identification walks with friends.

Anne Steelman, Farmstand Operations Manager

Anne came to Fair Food in February 2013 as the Farmstand Operations Manager.  Originally from South Jersey, Anne has a passion for fresh, local food.  She has a degree in Graphic Design and more then 5 years experience in retail management.

You can often find her paper crafting or sewing in her spare time. She also enjoys gardening and growing her own food during the spring and summer months, and she’s got a serious soft spot for all animals, especially her two cats and bunny.

Annemarie Vaeni, Program Associate

Annemarie came to Fair Food in January of 2011 after moving to South Philly a few months earlier from Washington, DC. She graduated in 2010 from a dual Masters program in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at American University in Washington, DC and the University for Peace in Costa Rica. During her studies she focused on the connections between communities and sustainable food systems but with Yankee farmers and restaurateurs for grandparents, food was always an inevitable love. She has had a blast getting to know her new city and connecting with Philly’s local foodie community and in her spare time, Annemarie loves exploring the city and finding new treats at the Farmstand and nearby farmers’ markets.

Rebecca Wallis, Farmstand Staff

Becky joined the Fair Food Farmstand in Fall 2012 after moving to Philly from Pittsburgh, where she spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Her love of local, seasonal food reaches back to childhood summers spent picking wild blueberries and playing (never working) in her family’s vegetable gardens in Western NY. It wasn’t until she moved to NYC for college that she realized how inaccessible local, healthy produce can be for urbanites- which is why she’s so happy to join the ‘Stand in bringing good food to great customers!