Where We Work
Crescent City
Farmers Market
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Emery Van Hook
Interim Director
emery@marketumbrella.org
The great-granddaughter of a New Orleans city girl who fell in love with a country Sicilian truck farmer, Emery Van Hook seemed destined for a career in her hometown's food markets. After graduating from Ursuline Academy, Emery moved to Memphis for barbecue and a degree in English Literature from Rhodes. After college, she headed back downriver to learn the ins and outs of the New Orleans restaurant scene, working her way up to Co-Director of Marketing for Dickie Brennan & Co. In preparation for her move to pursue a Masters in Food Studies at New York University, Emery threw a very timely going away party August 27, 2005. While in New York, she worked as an assistant editor at Food & Wine magazine. In June 2008, Emery packed up her Brooklyn apartment and moved home to join marketumbrella.org as Director of Markets. When not at market, she enjoys cooking everything she bought there in her Marigny home and visiting farmers markets and restaurants anywhere she finds them.
Latifia Carter
Director of Finance and Administration
latifia@marketumbrella.org
Latifia Carter came on board at marketumbrella.org in 2007 performing bookkeeping duties, but quickly parlayed her talents into a finance management position. As finance director, she organizes and manages the financial and administrative functions of the organization. Latifia’s credentials include a Bachelors of Applied Science in human and organizational development from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. Her past experience includes administering economic development programs for women- and minority-owned businesses, grant administration, contracting and purchasing. A lifelong New Orleanian, she prefers to spend her leisure time with her extensive extended family and friends.
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Kelly Landrieu
Markets Community Coordinator
kelly@marketumbrella.org
A fifth generation New Orleanian and avid gastronome from birth, Kelly L. Landrieu has been shopping at the Crescent City Farmers Market since she was allowed to drive as a teenager. With a wide variety of experience and education, she is always excited to interact with vendors, shoppers, and members of the community. Kelly is currently pursuing a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and is as equally passionate about the delicious market goodies as she is about the economic development impact markets have on communities worldwide. In her downtime, she is an avid cook, yoga practitioner and traveler.
Elisa Munoz
Markets Community Coordinator
elisa@marketumbrella.org
Born in Baton Rouge, Elisa has lived all over the US, returning for a degree in Economics from LSU. After again leaving, Elisa heard the call to return to Lousiana, choosing New Orleans as her home. A retail buyer in her former life, Elisa has since decided that job and life satisfaction are found in the same place, working to make communities more liveable and healthy. Unable to simply join anything, she co-founded a bicycle cooperative in Birmingham, AL, Bici Bicycle Cooperative and helped spearhead the first Food Policy Council there as well. In her spare time, Elisa enjoys crocheting, riding her bikes, blogging and generally enjoying life. She makes a mean pesto and is finally learning ballet, a dream since childhood.
Kira McAllister Norris
Business Coordinator
kira@marketumbrella.org
Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Kira grew up mostly barefoot playing in the fields and barns of her Amish neighbors. At a young age, she realized the animals in those barns were also on the dinner table and became a vegetarian. Always wanting to explore the world, Kira moved to New Orleans in 2004 to study political science, international development, and Spanish at Tulane. She has lived on three continents but has chosen to call New Orleans her permanent home. Kira lives Uptown with her husband, a New Orleans native, and her retired racing greyhound, and attempts to hide vegetables in both of their food.
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Patrick Fee
Market Assistant
Born and raised in Oak Park Illinois, Patrick journeyed to New Orleans in 2004 in search of fine food, art and music. It was here that he attended Loyola University’s Music school, earning a degree in Jazz studies. Patrick’s fondness for art, music and fine cuisine made New Orleans a rightly suitable place for him to live. He has spent time working on organic farms in Ireland, and has a great appreciation for locally grown produce. In addition to being a chef and farmers market assistant, Patrick is also drummer and composer with a passionate love for Irish music.