Board of Directors - 2008

 Caroline Nye - Salem 
 (1999 Salem, 2 year term) A leader of Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE), 
Caroline considers herself a passionate environmentalists and is very focused on local and global 
environmental issues. Now entering her 5th year on the FDC Board, she is looking forward to 
becoming more involved with the coop as its president. "I love how the coop brings me to the farm
each week without leaving town, and knowing about the farm my produce comes from is important to 
me. After reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma", I can't help wondering what kind of farm supermarket 
produce comes from, what the produce has been sprayed with, and how many days ago it was 
picked. With FDC, I know everything was just picked prior day, is organic, IPM or transitional, and 
this even year I hope to visit the family farm it came from!"
 
Sarah Shamel - Salem
 (2001 Salem, 2 year term) Sarah’s commitment to the FDC is inspired by her passion for fresh, 
local produce and vegetarian cooking. She has long found co-ops a good place to cultivate and 
share this passion; in college Sarah enjoyed living in a vegetarian housing co-op where cooking 
responsibilities were shared between 40 members. Now Sarah is a stay-at-home mom to Sadie and
 Frederick. She and her family live in Beverly. Through her volunteer work for the co-op, Sarah 
hopes to introduce more people to the joys of local fruits and veggies.
 

Melanie d'Avis - Salem
(2001 Salem, 1 year term) Melanie is a knitter, swimmer, birder and veteran garlic
 planter. A California native, she grew up with the following trees in her back yard: avocado, guava, 
 fig, macadamia nut, cherimoya, lemons, limes, peach, and apple. She is adventurous—enjoying 
traveling and fearlessly trying just about any unusual fruit or vegetable. The check-out clerk at the
grocery store is always holding up Melanie’s latest choice of produce and asking, “What IS this?
 
Hale Bradt - Salem
alternate
 
 
Tracy Hines - Marblehead
(2002 Marblehead, 3 year term) As a land conservation professional, there is no better way to
 integrate my personal and professional lives than to support local agriculture. As a mother, I love 
being able to teach my kids about where their food comes from and the importance of supporting l
ocal farmers. The Farm Coop was always ahead of its time and I’m been proud to be a part of
it. When I’m not chasing after my three kids (Jack-7, Cate-5, and Audrey-2) I’m working at Essex 
County Greenbelt Association or hiking in Lynn Woods with my husband Tom (a Lynn firefighter and 
3rd generation Lynn resident).
 
Heidi Rubin - Marblehead
(1997 Marblehead, 2 year term) As a healthcare provider I have always been keenly aware of the 
need for good nutrition. Coupled with my life experience as a “backyard gardener,” I have grown into
 a strong supporter of the Farm Direct Cooperative. We have been members since 1997. Over the 
last 11 years I have developed a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture through years of 
depot volunteering, education, other cooperative member’s passion and of course the fruits and
vegetables.
 
Richard "Pic" Harrison
 (1993 Marblehead, Alternate) I have been an FDC member for 15 years and co-founded the organization
with my wife Sarah. In the past I served as President and Treasurer. I have been involved with many non-profits over the years but
FDC is my personal favorite. We have an inspirational mission and are a real force in our regional food system. I am grateful to be
involved.
 
 
 
Jessica Mitchell - Melrose
 (2004 Melrose, 3 year term) Jessica has been a Melrose member of the Farm Direct Co-op since it was run as a
“test site” for just 2 pickups out of a friend’s driveway. She has been actively involved ever since working to help make the Co-op a
permanent establishment in Melrose. She first became interested in the benefits of locally grown produce watching a friend’s “garden
club” produce fresh organic produce in the backyard where she and her husband used to live. Since moving to Melrose, she has
welcomed the opportunity to receive a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables from the Co-op and continues to spread the word
of their superior quality and taste. She especially enjoys her children’s enthusiasm as they wonder “what’s in season this week?”
.
Martha Grover - Melrose
 (2005 Melrose, 1 year term) Martha first heard of CSA’s and farm co-ops on a summer visit to her
 mother’s house in Michigan. Hoping to find cherries, she opened the refrigerator and found the 
bottom three shelves stuffed with muddy lettuce. Always curious, Martha asked where it all came from
 and her mother explained about the CSA she had joined. Despite this first impression, when she
 heard about the opportunity to participate in a local farm co-op, she jumped at the chance and was
 pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t all lettuce. She hopes that the FDC continues to thrive and 
grow and is pleased to participate.
 
Betsey Benagh - Melrose
 
Jim Stringer - Melrose
 (2005 Melrose, alternate) Jim lives, cooks, gardens and eats in Melrose with his wife Jane and two young boys Simon
and Patrick. After volunteering (boy’s in tow) countless times at the Melrose depot during its inaugural season, Jim and his family are
hooked. Having spent most of his adult life as a chef, baker, and produce wholesaler, he harbors a love of the Earth and cherishes
the connection to the land and the growers. Since he doesn’t have the time or space to grow everything his family loves to eat the
FDC is a perfect fit. He says “the pristine quality, variety, freshness and local origins of FDC produce is a must have for our family.