The International Microgreen Growers Association("IMGGA")
is the collective voice for the
Microgreen Industry.



DIRECTORS INTRODUCTION



NANI - WAIATA KOROMETE



DIRECTOR





Nani's goal it to increase the bottom line of small local growers while keeping high food safety standards in the industry. She feels that the best way to increase market share is by informing consumers of the health benefits of Microgreens.


She is confident that by networking with growers who mostly are passionate about microgreens, that we can develop a food standard and branding that will increase microgreen consumption 80% over the next 3 years.


People are just not eating enough nutritious greens either because they don't know about it or they don't have access in their area. She is committed to growing your business and helping the consumer get healthier with microgreens.



BRIEF BIOGRAPHY



Nani spent the early years of her life in Southern California with a blended, multi-national, multi racial heritage. She was taught and mentored in "Farm to Market" agricultural production and agribusiness by the legendary James Bailey, who founded the Orange County Agricultural Fairgrounds "Centennial Educational Farm", which Nani participated in the inaugural construction.


While living in New Zealand, Nani managed her 3.75 acre Vegetable and Fruit Producing farm, with her husband & youngest son, Brandon; selling produce from their Orchards in the Agriculture B2B marketplace as well as direct farm to table. The farm included a 2000 sqft Greenhouse with Organic Hydroponic System for veggies & Microgreens, Citrus & Fruit orchards, Orchid Shade houses and Ornamental Gardens. The property was a favorite on the local area garden tour.


Nani's education in Ethnobotany was complemented with an extensive study of Bible based plants. Their property grew 98% of the plants mentioned in the bible. In 2008, she came back to the west coast of USA and with her husband developed Fresh & Salt Water Aquaponic Growing Systems. Since 2012, Nani has been growing Microgreens, Petite and Full size greens as well as Tilapia Fish out of their state of the art Aquaculture & Hydroponic Greenhouse.


Today she runs Enviroculture Farm, a CSA and Alabama Microgreens, businesses that deliver primarily to Huntsville and Athens areas. Nani has owned 7 different "Brick and Mortar" businesses in 7 different industries but has been farming since 1982. She started growing sprouts in 1988 and became obsessed with microgreens and their health benefits and started growing commercially in 2012. She is an expert grower and understands the business of growing. Along with keeping very busy with the daily operations of the IMGGA, she currently is owner of Alabama Microgreens and assists her husband in the development of new revolutionary technology for seafood growing.


Learn more at www.Alabamamicrogreens.com and www.foodsecurity.tech



INTRODUCING THE TEAM



DR. LINGYAN KONG



Assistant Professor in Food Science
University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa





Dr. Kong will be supervising the compilation of research studies on Microgreens for IMGGA.


He has assisted IMGGA in applying for a USDA grant. Dr. Kong earned his Ph.D. in Food Science from the Pennsylvania State University in 2012, and bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Engineering from the China Agricultural University in 2007.



Before he joined the University of Alabama, Dr. Kong worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and the USDA-ARS soft wheat quality lab. Dr. Kong’s research interests are to understand the structure-function relationships in food carbohydrates, and to develop food materials of unique structures and properties for improving food quality and nutritional benefits.


His current research projects include the nano-encapsulation of dietary bioactive compounds by starch-guest inclusion complexes, and their digestibility and release behavior. Dr. Kong has also been conducting interdisciplinary and collaborative research that integrates knowledge from food science, nutrition, physical chemistry, and materials science.


His research work has been published in journals such as Food Hydrocolloids, Carbohydrate Polymers, Biomacromolecules and Journal of Physical Chemistry B. Dr. Kong is teaching NHM 253 Food Science and NHM 101 Introduction to Human Nutrition and will teach NHM 490/692 Food & Nutrition Product Development in the coming academic year.





DR. LIBO TAN



Assistant Professor in Human Nutrition
University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa





Dr. Tan will develop the method of strategic and systematic literature search of Microgreens for IMGGA.


Dr. Tan earned her Ph.D. degree in Nutritional Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University, and bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at Shandong University in China.



As a Nutritional Biochemist, Dr. Tan's research focuses on the bioavailability and kinetics of nutrients and dietary bioactive compounds in human body as well as factors or techniques that may improve the bioavailability and influence the kinetics.


She is particularly interested in the bioavailability, distribution, and metabolism of carotenoids and vitamin A. Her research work has been published on journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Advances in Nutrition, the Journal of Nutrition, and the Journal of Lipid Research.





DANICA ABEJON



Director of the IMGGA Regulatory Board





Danica will assist the IMGGA Director to create new standards for the hospitality industry that currently do not exist, implementing responsible principles to maintain good health and safe food standards.


She will also assist to develop, good agriculture practices, good handling practices and safe storage practices for microgreens.



After working for the government for over a decade, Danica decided it was time leave her cubicle and follow her passion: local food. She studied local food systems across Kyrgyzstan while working towards her Masters in Sustainable Food Systems. After returning to the states, Danica felt the need to become a part of her own local food system. She apprenticed with international chef and Microgreen Educator Larry Hountz in Baltimore, Maryland.


On returning to Huntsville, Danica opened Sweet City Micros in January 2018. Danica worked non-stop to build a market for microgreens in North Alabama, selling to over 20 different local chefs, food trucks, hotels, caterers, and restaurants. ​ Danica has worked with a local food co-op, helping residents access affordable local food, and participated in multiple community events, to include coordinating with the Alabama Sustainable Agricultural Network to create Huntsville’s Inaugural Graze Event.


Sweet City Micros donates microgreens to organizations feeding the homeless on a weekly basis, ensuring that those most food insecure have access to nutrient dense food. After participating in 6 different local farmer's markets, Danica began teaching classes on the nutritional benefits of microgreens. It is Danica’s passion to continue to grow awareness of microgreens and their numerous benefits.





MERLIN YOCKSTICK



Director IMGGA AGRICULTURAL POLITICAL POLICY ADVISORY BOARD
Director of the IOWA CHAPTER OF THE IMGGA





Merlin Yockstick is working in collaboration with US and global organizations to design the future of Socio-Eco-Polity Development.


He heads up two divisions within BPSG - RegenIOWA, and RegenAMERICA.



Leading with 7 Securities and the US RDGs (Regenerative Development Goals), he has created a fundamental and systemic approach to accelerate the achievement of the 17 UN SDGs. Utilizing a bottom-up/top-down strategy, BPSG’s mission is to build a healthy, resilient world, by building SuperSmart, Data-Driven Communities.


He is an activist in transforming America’s health care system and sits on the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative and its Committee for Community Health Improvement. BPSG's focus is on the fundamentals of Water, Soil, Food, Agriculture, Education and Health. Merlin is Founder of Regen Iowa & Blue Planet Science Group (BPSG). http://www.blueplanetsciencegroup.com/





SHERMAN REED



​Director of the Specialty Crop Advisory Board





Sherman Reed is a District Conservationist for the USDA - United States Department of Agriculture.


Sherman manages the daily operations of a Michigan field office for the Natural Resources Conservation service.



He offers technical and/or financial assistance to Agricultural Producers. IMGGA is tremendously blessed to have someone with his experience and expertise to volunteer as Director of our Specialty Crop Advisory Board. He as already assisted IMGGA in identifying grants we are eligible for.





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