Wholesome Wave Farmers Markets

Chef/author/policy activist Michel Nischan was raised by displaced Midwest farmers. His mother instilled in him a lifelong appreciation of sustainable farming and love of food from a young age. That early experience led him to a career as a professional chef, through which he has devoted himself to cooking and feeding to support human environmental well-being, focused on the use of pure, local, sustainable and organic ingredients.

He is chef/owner of Dressing Room: A Homegrown Restaurant at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport CT. He is a 2008 James Beard Foundation nominee for Best TV Segments for his work on PBS’ Victory Garden and author of two best-selling cookbooks – Taste Pure and Simple; Chronicle Books 2003 (a Beard award winner in 2004) and Homegrown, Pure and Simple; Chronicle Books 2005.

In 2007, Michel created Wholesome Wave Foundation to make locally grown, sustainable foods available to all. He serves on the boards of the Amazon Conservation Team and Harvard’s Center for Health and the Global Environment.

Michel lives in Fairfield, CT with his wife Lori and their five children.

Katherine Dyer, Project Director, Farmers Markets

Born and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Katherine has spent her entire life around farmers and food. She worked in her grandparents’ busy restaurant from a young age, then moved to San Francisco & at 23 became a partner in Slow Club, a 50-seat neighborhood restaurant. Four years later, 42 Degrees, a 100-seat jazz supper club serving local, seasonal ingredients, came into being.

She serves as Market Manager of the Westport and Fairfield Markets and Coordinator of the Double Coupon/Market Box initiative, where she enjoys working with policy makers, farmers, community leaders & customers.

Lila Gault, Project Director, Greenwave Farm-to-College

Lila is a career food and wine professional with special focus on marketing and public relations. She has worked with farmers, food manufacturers, chefs and cookbook authors throughout America for three decades.

A former Board member of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, Lila is Past President of the New York Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and a founding Board member of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food.

She holds a Certificate in Fundraising and Non-Profit Management from NYU and lives in and works from her Chelsea loft.

Founding Board of Directors

Gus Schumacher, Chairman
Consultant, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Mr. Schumacher is the former Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Prior to his appointment as Under Secretary, he was the Administrator of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Before joining the USDA, Mr. Schumacher served at the World Bank and as the Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture.

During his tenure in Massachusetts, farmers markets grew from 34 to 88 and roadside stands showed strong growth. He created the Farmers' Market Coupon program, that provided coupons to low-income mothers and senior for use at farmers' markets and also helped develop new markets for local farmers. The coupon program was replicated by numerous other states and eventually became the federal FMNP (WIC) and SFMNP (seniors) program.

Michel Nischan, President
Wholesome Wave Foundation Charitable Ventures

Michel lives in Fairfield, CT with his wife Lori and their five children.

Betsy Fink
Betsy & Jesse Fink Foundation

Betsy is co-Chair of Marshall Street Management and President of the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation, which focuses on conservation and environmental education.

In 2005, Betsy established Millstone Farm in Wilton, Connecticut, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting local, sustainable agriculture, and which provides its own eggs and produce to a select group of area restaurants and markets. Millstone works with land trusts, environmental organizations and local farmers to preserve valuable agricultural land and develop sustainable agricultural models, and Betsy serves on the Board of the American Farmland Trust and the Wilton Land Trust.

Nora Pouillon
Restaurant Nora

Nora Pouillon is a pioneer and champion of organic, environmentally conscious cuisine. She opened Restaurant Nora, in 1979 in Washington DC and was immediately recognized for her ability to create healthy and delicious organic dishes. In 1999, the restaurant became the nation's first certified organic restaurant. Only three other restaurants have achieved this goal.

Nora also serves on the boards of the Amazon Conservation Team, Environmental Film Festival, Fresh Farm Markets and Earth Day Network and is an advisor to the Center for Mind Body Medicine’s “Food as Medicine" program, as well as Rachel's Network.

Nell Newman
Founder & President, Newman’s Own Organics

Nell Newman launched Newman's Own Organics is 1993. She is responsible for the company's product development and marketing.

Prior to Newman’s Own Organics, she served at the Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary and worked to reestablish the bald eagle in central California and also raised funds for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group.

Michael Batterberry
Publisher, Food Arts Magazine

Michael Batterberry with his wife Ariane are founders of Food Arts and Food & Wine magazines. He was a director of the American Institute of Wine & Food for six years.

He serves on the board of the French Culinary Institute and as a Member of the Corporation of The Culinary Institute of America and previously, on the board of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs. The Batterberrys were founders’ committee of advisors members for the U.S. Pastry Alliance and on the advisory committees of the New York Restaurant School and the NYU Department of Food & Nutrition Studies. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the Rockefeller Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.