Staff & Board

Stuart Coben, Co-Market Manager

I was born in Philadelphia in the 50's.

I was a young-hippie in the 60's, graduating high school in 1968. I attended college in Alabama. I lived in Boston, New York, Toronto, and several "small towns" on the east coast. 

In 1971 I opened my first brick and mortar store. In the 80's I married and became a proud happy Dad of two daughters. 

After 5 decades of having been a self-employed business owner, I moved to Nevada City to be closer to my family and my grandchildren. My hobbies include a lifelong passion for writing and reading. I am glad to have the opportunity to make the NCFM everyone's special place.

Amy Pharis, Producer Member, Chair

Hi my name is Amy Pharis and I’ve been a farmer here in Nevada County since 2011. I grew up in Mendocino and enjoyed the outdoors but never had the opportunity to farm. I attended college in Sacramento to receive my associates in veterinary medicine and then a bachelors in animal science from UC Davis. I worked as a registered veterinary technician for 13 years at a dog and cat clinic in auburn until our second child arrived and I became a full time stay at home momma and farmer. We started with egg laying chickens, meat chickens, turkeys and lots of pigs. We quickly realized we needed to focus on poultry and have enjoyed finding high quality organic feed and free ranging our birds the way they should be raised. I love all things farming, gardening (although I have a brown thumb), hiking, camping, fishing, going on adventures, time with my family, eating good food, reading, running, homeschool, office supplies and did I mention eating delicious food?

Term ends June 2025

Dylan Lynch, Producer Member, Vice Chair

My name is Dylan Lynch, I was born and raised in Vermont and moved to Lake Tahoe California in 2007 to continue growing a snowboard company that was started in highschool by myself and a friend.  For a decade I traveled in the winters and eventually got a property in the foothills to start working on my homestead life that I've always been drawn to.  During that time I became interested in growing mushrooms in my garden as a source of protein and noticed this was not talked about in most of the permaculture/gardening books I had read. I started growing Shiitake on logs and oysters in buckets and felt inspired to pursue and share this practice with anyone interested. This led me to where I am today, owner of Grass Valley Mushrooms. We mainly provide fresh gourmet mushrooms to our community but continue to be intrigued by all of the potential benefits that working with fungi has to offer our species and the planet.  

Term ends June 2026

Spencer Wingfield, Producer Member, Treasurer

Spencer is a second generation beekeeper and also comes from a farming background in the Sutter Buttes of Northern California. He was pushed to go to college and pursue a career in Civil Engineering. It took 8 years in the corporate world for him to decide that he'd had enough and returned back to his family's business in the bees. In 2015 he went to work full-time for his fathers migratory (Montana to California) bee business. He jumped in 100% into the bees and has not looked back. He attends and is a member of 3 state and 2 national bee and honey associations. He attended Apimondia (the worlds bee symposium) in Montreal in 2018, a honey sensory & analysis course at UC Davis in 2019 and tries to stay current with the latest bee and honey research as scientists continue to learn more about bees. Spencer purchased a bee business in Nevada County in 2017/2018 and has since relocated with his wife and little girl to Grass Valley. Spencer currently serves as President of the Nevada County Beekeepers Association.

Term ends June 2025

Peggy Peterson, Artisan Member

Peggy Peterson is a vendor at the market selling market baskets from Ghana, Morocco and Kenya.  She's been a participant in the market from the beginning when local store owners were invited to participate.  Peggy owns Asylum Down and Yabobo.  Peggy went to school in Ghana from UC Davis through Education Abroad in 1974.  Ever since then she's been supporting African artisans through all of her business ventures.  Peggy has served on the Board of Directors off and on for many years.

Term ends June 2025

Erica Ben-Moshe, Artisan Member

A Chicago native, I moved to Nevada City in 2013 and I’ve been grateful to call this place home ever since. I was originally drawn to the beauty of the Sierras and the Yuba River, but it’s the incredible community that has kept me here this long.

I’m the founder and owner of Elka Herbals. Since 2011, I’ve been hand-crafting a line of all-natural, herbal skincare and aromatherapy products and selling them at the Nevada City Farmers Market and other markets and festivals all over Northern California. As a long-time vendor at our local farmers market, I’m thrilled to now be serving on the Board of Directors and giving back to this community that has served me so well for nearly a decade.

Aside from running Elka Herbals full-time, I am a proud mother to my son Matan and a life-long oil painter. I love to spend my free time in nature or in my kitchen cooking up vibrant whole-food recipes.

Term ends June 2025

Kaori Stuessy, Artisan/Food Purveyor Member

Kaori was born and raised on the island of Kyushu, in south western Japan, in a family that loved to cook and share nourishing meals. She learned to cook by helping her grandma and parents from a young age. At age 18, she moved to California by herself for college. Her inspiration for culinary arts flourished, as she prepared her home-learned Japanese dishes for her housemates and was introduced to local farmers markets, organic farming, plus the restaurants and writings of chefs such as Alice Waters.

For the last 10 years she has lived in Grass Valley with her husband and 2 daughters, and has started her business Hachidori Cooking; offering catering and private chef, as well as making her stall at the farmers market and some select other events. It is her joy to cook nourishing food for this community. Outside of the kitchen she enjoys a daily yoga practice, dance, and travels to diverse and beautiful places around the world, gathering further ideas and recipes for her repertoire!

Term ends June 2026

Gary Silveria, Community Member

I have been working in the agricultural industry for over 44 years.  I am currently employed by Grow West, an independent Northern California Ag Retailer.  I am a California licensed Pest Control Adviser and a Certified Crop Adviser.

I was employed as the Solano County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner for 12 years prior to joining Grow West. 

Working directly with conventional, sustainable, and organic growers has been extremely rewarding.  It has also been challenging staying current on the diversified crops we consult on for pest management and fertility needs.   We are also diligent in keeping up with industry trends and regulatory compliance.

I have sat on professional association boards and committees, was appointed and currently sit on a CDFA state board, and am a member of the UC IPM Advisory Committee.

I received my Bachelor Degree in Biological Science from Chico State.

I am thrilled to be a board member with the Nevada City Farmers Market.

Term ends June 2025

Thalis Pharris, Community Member

Bio coming soon!

Term ends June 2026

Michaelyn Logue, Community Member

Bio coming soon!

Term ends June 2026