Emily NcNamara
Emily McNamara is an environmental professional and second-generation farmer dedicated to advancing sustainable farming practices and innovative resource management. Holding a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Brown University, Emily combines scientific literacy and practical leadership skills to promote sustainable agriculture.
As Co-Owner and Operator of Sierra Orchards, her family’s 400-acre Regenerative Organic Certified farm, Emily currently leads sales, marketing, brand development, and customer relations while overseeing strategic farm planning, grant management, and conservation initiatives. Her work emphasizes soil health and water resource management and integrates sustainable practices that enhance productivity and environmental resilience.
In addition to her work at Sierra Orchards, Emily serves as a trustee of the Winters Farm-to-School Board, which sources fresh and seasonal local foods for schools in the community, manages school gardens, and educates children about sustainable agriculture. Emily previously co-founded Green River Gardens, where she built a small-scale agricultural operation from the ground up, managing lease agreements, infrastructure, staffing, and market development. She also served as Director of Marketing at California Safe Soil, where she launched sustainability-focused campaigns, collaborated with UC Davis researchers on zero-waste innovations, and secured USDA grant funding to support product development.
Through her work, Emily bridges the gap between environmental stewardship and agricultural enterprise, fostering solutions that strengthen local food systems and promote long-term ecological health.
