Our Mission
We are dedicated to promoting environmental, agricultural, and nutrition education. We support school garden programs and connecting local farms to Ventura County schools.
Board of Directors
Naomi Hansen
A 20-year resident of Ventura County, Naomi is passionate about the role of local agriculture in building a sustainable food system. With 15 years of experience in food business leadership and innovation for Dole Packaged Foods, she founded Planet A Growth Partners, a consultancy supporting food system change agents, and served as Marketing Director for Planetary CARE, a regenerative agriculture startup. Naomi currently leads marketing for Fresh Food Connect, a nonprofit leveraging technology to engage home gardeners in community hunger relief. Naomi holds an MBA from the Wharton School, and a BSBA from Georgetown University. A proud parent of 2 kids in Ventura County public schools, Naomi loves getting her family out hiking, climbing, and digging in the soil around her native plant and veggie gardens.
Ruben Alarcón, PhD
Ruben is a Biology Professor at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) where he regularly teaches Entomology and Apiculture & Bee Biology. His research focuses on pollinator communities, honey bee health, and sustainable agriculture. He is the faculty advisor for the Bee Club and is working to create a B.S. degree in Sustainable Agriculture at CSUCI.
Alec Martinez
Alec is a Fourth generation farmer. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Accounting and Information Systems, he returned to work on the farm growing and managing crews for a variety of row crops. Currently serving as President of Farm Bureau of Ventura County’s Young Farmers & Ranchers committee while working for Nelson Farming helping to manage Avocados, and Citrus orchards.
Suzanne Lugotoff, RDS
Suzanne Lugotoff is a Registered Dietician who has dedicated her career to bringing students healthy, delicious meals in school cafeterias. She is a founding member of Ventura County Farm to School and paved the way for the programs we have today.
Claudia Romero
Claudia was born and raised in Ventura County, obtained an associate degree from Ventura College before transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Agriculture Business with a Minor in Crop Science. She is the Oxnard district Blackberry/Blueberry Forecaster. She enjoys her role and most importantly being able to participate in various philanthropy events.
Allison England, SNS
Allison is the Director of Nutrition Services for Ocean View School District in Oxnard, CA. Allison started her career in edible education in Boston, MA where she was the menu planner for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. As her experience expanded into the classrooms of Boston Public Schools, she found her niche in school food, combining her passions for both teaching and cooking. Her interest in Farm to School Programming brought her out to California where she was the Executive Chef for Grimmway Academy and Edible Schoolyard Kern County, spearheading scratch cooking, farm to school, and connecting school gardens to the cafeteria. As a former credentialed teacher, she treats her cafeterias as an extension of the classroom. Allison holds a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Endicott Collect, a Swiss Hotel Diploma from Les Roches International School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, and an Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate from the Culinary Institute of America.
Our Team.
Anna Jackson, MPP
Executive Director
Anna brings grant writing, program management, and policy analysis experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has been working with local Farm to School programs since 2015 and founded the OUHSD Farm to School Program. She earned a Masters in Public Policy with an emphasis in Health Policy from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Global Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Anna holds two teaching credentials in Health Sciences and Agriculture. She is a certified Garden Educator from the Life Lab at UC Santa Cruz and has a Certification in Environmental Education from California's Association for Outdoor and Environmental Education. She manages her family's small citrus orchard and is a 6th generation member of the Oxnard and Camarillo community.
Genesis Mena
Garden and Nutrition Educator, Ocean View School District
My journey with food and education has been anything but ordinary. For eight years, I worked as a prep and cook, discovering the magic of creating delicious meals that bring people together. After that, I had the privilege of serving with FoodCorps, where I taught cooking and gardening at schools like Rio Del Mar, Rio Rosales, Rio Plaza, and Rio Del Norte. These experiences helped me develop hands-on programs that make learning about food fun, engaging, and memorable. I’m excited to bring those skills to Ocean View and inspire students to explore the joys of healthy, sustainable eating. Most recently, I served as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Get Hooked Seafood, where I helped connect schools and communities with fresh, sustainable seafood and shared the importance of supporting local fisheries and nutritious eating habits. Food has always been a bridge for me—connecting cultures, communities, and generations. Growing up, my love for food was sparked during family trips to the Yucatán, where I cooked traditional dishes with my family and enjoyed meals under the shade of a tamarind tree. These cherished memories remind me that food is more than nourishment; it’s a way to celebrate culture, build community, and share stories.
Jenna Salim
Garden and Nutrition Educator, Oak Park Unified School District
Jenna has been working in Farm to School programs since 2022, when she joined the Rio School District as a Food Education Service Member with FoodCorps. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Community Advocacy and Social Policy. Through FoodCorps, she developed a passion for food justice for all children and a wide array of gardening knowledge. Her favorite thing to grow is sunflowers and her favorite vegetable to eat is beets! She's currently enrolled in a Graduate program to become a School Counselor and continue her career promoting health, wellbeing, and success for students.
Jisell Camarena
Intern
Jisell is an Oxnard High graduate and current Cal State Channel Islands Senior. She is finishing a double major in Political Science and Chicana/o/x Studies, and completed a semester abroad last year. Jisell joined VCF2S in 2023 through CSUCI's Service Learning Food Corps program.
Cassandra Espinoza
Intern
Cassandra is Buena High graduate and current Senior at Cal State Channel Islands. She is completing her major in Sociology this year. Cassandra joined VCF2S in 2023 with the CSUCI Service Learning FoodCorps Program.