In December 2021, Maritza Owens stepped down as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Harvest Home Farmers Market, a pioneer in bringing farmer’s markets to low-income New York City neighborhoods, and one of the city’s largest managers of farmer’s markets in communities of color. In 2020-2021 the organization operated 13 farmer markets in low-income communities across the city and distributed over 200,000 lbs. of free produce.

For more than 25 years, she has been involved in some aspect of community-based planning, advocacy, environmental justice, economic development, and public health.

Her professional career includes serving as the Director of Professional Membership at the National Kidney Foundation, Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs at North General Hospital and Associate Director of Economic Development at Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council. Ms. Owens holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Adelphi University and a certificate in Urban Planning from Pratt Institute.