Perry Abbenante

With a decade of grocery experience, Perry Abbenante is a wealth of food product knowledge with a keen eye for trends in all things grocery – from global foods and speed scratch to special diets and ethical sourcing. Perry got his start in buying and category management at a small, upscale grocery chain in the Pacific Northwest. He began his career with Whole Foods Market in 2003 as a regional grocery buyer for both the Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions, and is now our global grocery buyer, working to get the newest innovative products on shelf for our customers.

Paige Brady

Paige Brady joined Whole Foods Market in 1993 and, after working in various other businesses, found that the stakeholder philosophy and commitment to team member excellence allowed her to focus her passion on communication. From internal team member newsletters to editing our website, Paige has spent years immersing herself in what makes Whole Foods Market tick. She doesn’t claim to know all the answers, but she knows the people who do. When she’s not working, Paige is a dedicated mother of a tween daughter and an accomplished home cook – not of dinner party-type food but of the kind that you eat day in and day out.

Jenny Brown

After almost a decade of living in places such as Australia, Costa Rica, California, and Washington, D.C., Jenny Brown returned to her home state of Texas to work on Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program. Her varied experience includes traveling and studying on a dance fellowship, teaching English as a Foreign Language, owning and managing a recycled clothing store, and doing research and writing at an environmental non-profit. A fluent Spanish speaker and compulsive reduce/reuse/recycler, Jenny has an M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a B.A. in English from Rice University.

Carrie Brownstein

As our Seafood Quality Standards Coordinator, Carrie’s work currently focuses on developing and enhancing quality standards for seafood sold at Whole Foods Market. She analyzes critical issues in both ocean fisheries and aquaculture and works with producers to develop solutions that encourage greater sustainability in the seafood marketplace. After getting a Masters degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, where she focused on fisheries management, Carrie worked as an independent consultant for a range of environmental NGOs and for five years as the research and outreach coordinator for the Blue Ocean Institute’s seafood sustainability program. However, her roots in seafood go farther back: her family has been in the seafood business since 1909.

Karen Christensen

After developing a plethora of usable job skills as a student of painting and drawing, Karen Christensen’s first produce job was unloading a truckload of organic Florida watermelons by hand in 1988. She received a box of organic Haitian mangoes as part payment and has been hooked on produce ever since. Following stints in warehousing and driving produce delivery trucks, Karen came to Whole Foods Market in 1998 as a regional produce buyer in the Northern California region. Since that time, Karen has held a variety of positions including national produce buyer and regional produce and floral coordinator. When she’s not toting watermelons and enjoying mangoes, Karen can be found talking about cherries and berries while scouting for produce and floral in a variety of locations around the globe.

Malia Curran

Malia Curran, MS, MPH is a national and regional nutrition consultant for Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading retailer of natural and organic foods. Malia is the founder of Malia’s Wholesome Health, Nutrition Consulting, and focuses on healthy household makeovers. She holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition Science & Food Policy from The Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University, and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Tufts School of Medicine. As a nutritionist, writer, and health consultant, she lectures and writes on a wide range of natural healthy lifestyle topics.

Joe Dickson

Joe started a summer job with Whole Foods Market in Boston ten years ago, got sucked in by the fact that this is one of the most fulfilling companies that one could possibly work for, and never left. He works as part of the company’s Quality Standards Team, which is responsible for developing and maintaining standards for natural food, bodycare and supplement ingredients. He also works on agricultural and food policy issues, including organic agriculture and genetically engineered crops, and works with our stores to maintain our status as the first national certified organic retailer. Joe first fell in love with organic and sustainable agriculture while a student in New York State’s Hudson Valley; he holds a degree in cognitive neuroscience from Vassar College. When not geeking out about food chemistry, Joe’s probably reading, experimenting in the kitchen, finding a newer, colder swimming hole, or learning how to speak Texan. He’s also very excited about fig season.

Bryan Doane

After working in the produce industry in Northern California for about five years, Bryan Doane joined Whole Foods Market in 1998 at our Boulder Store. He’s held a variety of jobs with Whole Foods Market — from store level to global — all focusing on Produce. Bryan first became interested in produce while attending college in Santa Rosa, CA. He loves the connection between the earth and plants that help us survive. Now based in North Carolina, he enjoys spending time at the beach with his family, surfing, playing tennis and buying fruit for our stores!

Hallie Easley

Hallie is the Development Associate for Whole Planet Foundation. The Whole Planet Foundation’s mission is to create economic partnerships with the poor in those developing-world communities that supply our stores with product. In her role, she supports the team in communications — including writing borrower stories, partnership development and fundraising programs. She has extensive travel, study and work experience in Latin America and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Hallie has a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M University and enjoys traveling, music and rock climbing.

Jessica Johnson

In 2006, after four years in the grocery industry, Jessica Johnson joined Whole Foods Market. The standards, mission and values drew her in, and, inevitably, keeps her coming back every day. After spending her childhood in both Honduras and Texas, Jessica realized her passion was in promoting the ambitions, successes and strengths of the under-privileged producers in Third World countries. In 2008, Jessica found her dream position as the Whole Trade Guarantee Specialist, which enables her to cultivate and fulfill her passion each day. Before joining Whole Foods Market, Jessica studied, worked and lived in Honduras, Switzerland, Brazil and Mexico, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She has a B.A. in International Business from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.

Josiah Leet

Josiah Leet started with Whole Foods Market in 1993 and has been a Quality Assurance Field Inspector since 2001. “Stationed” on the Eastern seaboard for the winter off-shore-vessel season, every May he begins his “road season.” He covers various commodities grown and packed in South Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, New York State, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. Raised on the family farm in Pennsylvania where he first learned to drive on a tractor (a 1949 Ford 8N), Josiah has spent time on both coasts and is an avid (though admittedly amateur) surfer and a fairly decent fisherman. He also enjoys “the grilling arts” and a long weekend on the Harley. “Good food is best when served to good friends” is his motto.

Anna Madrona

Former park ranger Anna Madrona helped open the fourth Whole Foods Market store in Texas in 1985, leaving after a few years for, literally, greener pastures. After working in the environmental field as a cartographer, GIS specialist, archeological dig bum, and historic preservation professional, Ms. Madrona returned to Whole Foods Market in the late ‘90s on the start-up team for Whole Foods Market’s dotcom experiment. In her third incarnation at Whole Foods Market, the ever-curious Anna works as a writer and researcher in Austin. She has degrees in agriculture & resources management, geography, and public history. Her current enthusiasms include permaculture and authoring the first book in her koan mystery series.

Jeremiah McElwee

Jeremiah McElwee started his career in the natural food/lifestyle industry at a small herbal apothecary in Harvard Square and has been with Whole Foods Market since 1997. He spent 6 years traveling the country conducting training sessions on the quality and efficacy of Whole Foods Market and 365 Everyday Value Private Label products and Whole Body programs. He works diligently to deliver value to all Whole Foods Market stakeholders through his passion, innovation, and love for all things Whole Body. McElwee worked as a brand manager for Weil Nutritional supplements and was involved in countless product developments and launches. McElwee continues to study all aspects of integrative health care, herbalism, nutrition, and personal care.

James Parker

Born in Mississippi and raised in the South (mainly Texas), James Parker’s first produce job was at 16 in a supermarket in Dallas where he trimmed corn, made orange juice, and put strawberries in plastic containers for 4 hours every day after school. James joined Whole Foods Market in 1986 where he initially focused on retail department design and merchandising- helping open more than 60 stores throughout the US. He has since expanded his interests to include the production and purchasing side of the business for fresh produce and floral. For James, produce is “still life- a physical manifestation of our seasonal cycles. Fresh fruits and vegetables connect us to our world in a way that is dynamic and ever changing. It is a way for us to celebrate the changing seasons and our changing world in a positive way every day.” James is also a painter, fresh food chef and advocate, sometimes successful gardener, avid sand castle builder and pumpkin carver. He lives in Aptos, California with his wife Erin, son Aidan, daughter Delilah, and cat Harry.

Kate Rowe

From haute cuisine to collard greens, Kate is eager to discuss the latest trends in the food world. Kate joined Whole Foods Market in 2005 and now serves as senior editor for the website and email newsletters. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she worked for a French wine importer in Napa Valley, California, before moving to France to pursue her passion for French language, culture and cuisine. Kate taught English at a high school in Burgundy for a year and then landed a spot as an intern at nearby La Varenne cooking school. She stayed on for three years as associate course director for La Varenne and editorial assistant to the school’s founder, cookbook author Anne Willan. Now based in Austin, Kate enjoys the challenge of mastering the art of backyard vegetable gardening.

Cathy Strange

Cathy Strange joined Whole Foods Market in 1990 and has a wealth of food industry experience and expertise. As the global cheese buyer, she has become an authority at detecting international food trends during her travels around the world while seeking out vendor partners that meet Whole Foods Market’s strict Quality Standards. She is a member of the American Cheese Society and the Cheese of Choice Coalition and the Cheese Importers Association. Strange works with small producers helping them sustain a profitable business. She was recently inducted into the distinguished international Guilde des Fromagers de Saint-Uguzon, the most celebrated association of cheese mongers and specialists in France. Strange is one of very few Americans inducted into the prestigious guild of cheese trade professionals, recognized for comprehensive knowledge and attention to the merits of French cheese.

Adesina Stewart

With a B.A. in sociology and training as a Certified Nutrition Educator, Adesina explored other industries before finding her niche with Whole Foods Market. She excelled at many roles, from cashier to Whole Body team member and now as the Northern California Green Mission Specialist. All along, Adesina has immersed herself in the healing powers of food and the social connection it creates in communities. Her passion for food led her to an interest in organics and an understanding of how our food and lifestyle choices affect the environment and our global community. When she’s not working on our behalf, Adesina enjoys casual bike rides, cooking, gardening, raising chickens, making wine, and canning seasonal fruits & vegetables.

Steve Wanta

Steve is the Executive Program Director for the Whole Planet Foundation. He oversees the existing portfolio of microfinance programs and analyzes new projects for funding. Prior to his work with the Foundation, Steve spent time in business development with a technology company and later became a rural development volunteer in the Peace Corps. He is excited to be part of a team that is affecting positive change in the world and redefining corporate consciousness. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in Business and Spanish. Steve is to be proud a retired rugby player and an owner of the Green Bay Packers.