FOOD POLICY EXPERT
- Lead Consultant and Director of Healthy Communities Projects with Terra Soma
- Co-chair of the Saint Paul-Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission
- Former Program Director of Gardening Matters
Strategic leader with experience in directing community-based food systems and urban agriculture policy.
Nadja is the Lead Consultant and Director of Healthy Communities Projects with Terra Soma. With nearly fifteen years’ experience in the field, she is a content expert at the intersection of local food policy and community planning, providing technical assistance to local governments, nonprofits, and community members working to increase healthy food access. She uses local community planning as tool to strategically identify and implement initiatives to increase access to healthy food, physical activity, and health equity.
A resident of St. Paul, Nadja Berneche has served on the Saint Paul-Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission for eight years, serving as co-chair for the last four. She has worked with coalitions and networks on changing policies to support urban agriculture, healthy eating, and food access at state and local levels.
Prior to this, Nadja directed a nonprofit active in community-based food systems and urban agriculture policy. She also worked for seven years in higher education, focused on community-based learning and community-university partnerships. Nadja earned her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. She enjoys chasing around her 5-year old son and two elder dogs, cheering for University of Michigan football, and making carrot pickles.
