FRESHFARM Names Former White House Public Health Advisor, Catherine Oakar, as Executive Director
After an extensive search led by our Board of Directors, FRESHFARM is thrilled to announce that Catherine (Cat) Oakar will serve as the nonprofit’s next Executive Director starting Monday, August 11th. Oakar’s twenty-year food and health policy career at the national, state, and local levels uniquely positions her to further FRESHFARM’s mission of creating a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Oakar is a nationally respected leader with deep roots in public health and food policy, and her experience shaping systems-level change at the highest levels of government makes her ideally suited to lead FRESHFARM forward. Oakar brings two decades of experience at the intersection of food, health, and equity. Oakar began her work in Washington, DC as a Winston Health Policy Fellow and has conducted community-based research with low-income cancer survivors and safety net clinics. Most recently, she served as Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities in the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Biden. Her leadership in national initiatives—such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign—and her policy work at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services underscore her longstanding dedication to advancing public health and food equity, values that deeply resonate with FRESHFARM’s mission.
“I’ve spent my entire career at the intersection of food, health, and equity. I believe deeply that access to fresh, nourishing food is a basic human right, not a privilege,” shares Oakar. “As a longtime Washington, DC resident, FRESHFARM has always stood out as a powerful example of what’s possible when we put community, food, and public health first. I am honored to join FRESHFARM at such a pivotal time. I’m excited to work alongside the extraordinary FRESHFARM team, farmers, producers, shoppers, schools, and community members to continue building a vibrant, equitable, and resilient local food system across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.”
Oakar joins FRESHFARM at a critical moment for our local food system. As demand for our programs grows and the broader policy landscape shifts, her experience and vision will be instrumental in guiding FRESHFARM forward. Under her leadership, FRESHFARM will double down on our efforts to strengthen the local food economy, expand equitable food access, and deliver transformative food education to the next generation.
FRESHFARM is deeply grateful to our Board of Directors for their steadfast work securing our next leader and our incredible Interim Executive Director, Jacquelyn Lendsey, for her steady leadership and dedication over the past several months. Together, they have kept FRESHFARM moving forward with grace and strength.
Read the press release and Oakar’s bio to learn more about this exciting development.
