Grand Lake Farmer's Market

Andy Naja-Riese

Andy Naja-Riese brings 17 years’ experience in community food systems, public health, and food equity programs & policy. As Chief Executive Officer, he leads AIM's major programs, partnerships, strategic planning, advocacy, and fundraising, including a capital campaign for AIM’s Center for Food and Agriculture in collaboration with AIM’s Board of Directors. Andy joined AIM in 2018 after spending 10 years working for the Federal government, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. Andy is currently the Co-Chair of the Marin County Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Collaborative, serves on the Steering Committees of the Alliance of California Farmers Markets, Bay Area Agricultural Plan, Marin Carbon Project, Marin Feeding Workgroup, and the National Farm to School Network's Advisory Board. Andy represents AIM on the California Food and Farming Network & Food and Farm Resilience Coalition, which successfully secured over $1 billion in funding for sustainable agriculture, local food system infrastructure and healthy food access, and farmworker health and well-being in the 2024 Statewide Climate Bond (Proposition 4). Andy received the 2022 CVNL Heart of Marin award for Excellence in Leadership and the 2023 Farmers Market Champion of the Year award from CAFF. He earned his master’s degree from the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health and his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He lives with his husband and dog in Sonoma, where he enjoys backyard gardening, cooking farmers market hauls, and enjoying Northern California’s natural beauty.