Katie Pearmine

Global Food Systems Partnerships Associate Director
“Food bankers are powerful community builders who are redesigning the food system to ‘bend toward justice,’ while simultaneously working on the root causes of food insecurity, poverty, and climate change.”

Having grown up on a family farm, Katie has been working in food systems since childhood. Katie joined the GFN product sourcing team in December 2020 and leads strategic food and agricultural partnerships. Katie brings more than 25 years of experience working to build resilient and equitable food systems, and is passionate about solving the paradoxical problems of food insecurity and food loss and waste.

Previously, Katie spent six years with Oregon Food Bank as Strategic Sourcing Manager, overseeing a team dedicated to partnering with farmers, ranchers, fishers, food processors, retailers, and others to source nutritious food for people experiencing hunger. She spent four years at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, where she led a USDA grant program and supported food, beverage, and agricultural companies to grow their businesses. Her previous work also includes 10 years with a publishing and marketing firm focused on sustainable business.

Katie enjoys community building and has served on the boards of directors for: Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center, Farmers Ending Hunger, and Zenger Farm. Katie lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two cats.

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