Acadiana Food Alliance
ABOUT AFA
Acadiana Food Alliance
Aims to build income for regional producers, as we engage and unify the local foods movement in Acadiana by providing technical assistance, a regional vision and leadership. Our intention is to increase sales and consumption of local food, to develop new market opportunities for regionally produced agricultural products and to expand this area’s local food enterprises.
Meet Our Board of Directors
The Acadiana Food Alliance Board of Directors is composed of farmers, community leaders, and professionals committed to strengthening the regional food system and supporting local producers across Acadiana.
Nicole Johnson
Interim Board President
Nicole Johnson is a homeschooling mother, farmer, and community leader dedicated to strengthening Acadiana’s local food system. Alongside her life and business partner, Trey, she operates L4S Farms, a small-scale farm specializing in medicinal herbs, including ginger and multiple varieties of turmeric, using sustainable and regenerative practices that support long-term soil health.
Nicole is also the co-founder of Fightingville Fresh Market, a twice-weekly neighborhood farmers market in downtown Lafayette that increases access to fresh, locally grown food while creating opportunities for small and emerging producers. Her work focuses on connecting food, health, and community through accessible, locally rooted solutions.
As Interim Board President, Nicole brings a strong farmer-led perspective, community-building experience, and a deep commitment to advancing food access and local agriculture across Acadiana.
Chris Adams
Treasurer
Chris Adams is a long-time leader in Louisiana’s local food and organic agriculture movement, with over two decades of experience in farming, community development, and sustainability. As co-founder of Earthshare Gardens, Lafayette’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project, Chris has played a foundational role in building local food infrastructure and expanding access to fresh, locally grown produce.
Throughout his career, Chris has served in key roles including Statewide Organic Agriculture Director for Louisiana Central and Urban Sustainability Planner for Lafayette Consolidated Government. His work has consistently focused on connecting farmers, strengthening markets, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices.
As Treasurer, Chris brings extensive experience in both financial oversight and strategic planning, along with a deep understanding of the regional food system and the relationships that sustain it.
Marissa Winters
Board Member
Marissa Winters is a nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience developing community-centered initiatives that address complex social challenges. With a background in nutritional science and education, her work focuses on improving access to essential services, including healthcare, education, housing, employment, and nutrition.
Marissa is committed to advancing equity by working collaboratively with communities to develop sustainable, long-term solutions. Her approach emphasizes listening, partnership, and ensuring that the voices of those most impacted are central to decision-making processes.
As a Board Member, Marissa brings expertise in program development, community engagement, and systems-level thinking, contributing a holistic perspective that strengthens Acadiana Food Alliance’s ability to serve both farmers and the broader community.
Ramsey Narcisse
Board Member
Ramsey Narcisse Sr. is the owner of Growing Hands Farm, LLC, in Iberia Parish, where he has been farming for the past six years. A third-generation farmer, Ramsey continues a family legacy rooted in sugarcane and vegetable production, carrying forward the values and practices passed down through generations.
With a deep respect for the land instilled from a young age, Ramsey focuses on growing organic vegetables and producing high-quality specialty crops that contribute to a healthier local food system. His work reflects both tradition and a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
As a Board Member, Ramsey brings a strong farmer perspective and a commitment to peer learning, actively supporting fellow farmers by sharing knowledge and helping strengthen the local agricultural community.
Lyric Shelvin
Board Member
Lyric Shelvin is a homeschooling mother of three, a farmer, and a community advocate dedicated to strengthening Acadiana’s local food system. She supports farmers and producers through both direct engagement and technical assistance, helping to build more sustainable and resilient agricultural operations.
Lyric operates a bookkeeping service and provides financial and technical support to farmers, offering practical tools that strengthen farm viability. She also grows food at Fightingville Fresh Market, where she remains actively connected to the local farming community.
Raised in a sharecropping family, Lyric carries forward a deep agricultural heritage while helping ensure that farming knowledge continues into future generations. As a Board Member, she brings financial expertise, farmer support experience, and a strong commitment to community-driven solutions.
Dustin Frederick
Board Member
Dustin Frederick is a first-generation farmer and the owner and operator of Scarlette Acres Farm and Nursery. Based in Youngsville, he is dedicated to expanding access to nutrient-dense, locally grown food while educating the community on the importance of sustainable agriculture and healthy food systems.
After spending 15 years in the oil and gas industry, Dustin transitioned to farming to pursue his long-standing passion for agriculture. He founded Scarlette Acres in 2020 and began farming full-time in 2025, building a family-centered operation focused on producing high-quality local food.
Dustin is committed to strengthening connections between farmers and the communities they serve, with a focus on promoting health, food access, and local economic resilience. As a Board Member, he brings a fresh perspective as a first-generation farmer, along with a strong commitment to education, advocacy, and supporting fellow producers across Acadiana.
Madeline Pears
Board Member
Madeline Pears was raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, and has built her career at the intersection of food, business, and community, splitting her time between Lafayette and New Orleans before pursuing graduate studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In New Orleans, she deepened her commitment to food systems through volunteer and internship experiences with Edible Schoolyard and Grow Dat Youth Farm, while also serving as a manager at Willa Jean, a James Beard Award winning restaurant within the John Besh Restaurant Group.
She earned a dual MBA and MA in Food Studies from Chatham University, where she supported the Center for Regional Agriculture and Food Transformation as a workshop coordinator and food innovation lab coordinator. There, she facilitated a 12 week market readiness program for small farm and food businesses, and has continued this work as a food business consultant both independently and with CRAFT for the past five years.
Supporting small businesses and restaurants has been a value of hers since childhood, and her love for food and the way it brings people together through growing, cooking, and sharing has fueled her passion to return home to Louisiana to do meaningful, community centered work. She most recently served as Program Coordinator for the Delta Regional Food Business Center, where she helped expand opportunities for small and mid sized producers and post harvest businesses across the Delta.
Madeline currently serves as Program Director for Greaux the Good, Louisiana’s only statewide nutrition incentive program. In this role, she leads statewide strategy, partner engagement, and program implementation to increase access to fresh, locally grown food while strengthening Louisiana’s farm direct economy.
Be The Change You Want To See
Acadiana Food Alliance is currently accepting applications for new Board of Directors members who are passionate about strengthening Acadiana’s local food system and advancing equitable access to healthy, locally produced food. Board members play a vital role in guiding the organization’s strategic direction, supporting responsible governance and championing programs that build income opportunities for local farmers and producers while unifying the regional local foods movement.
We welcome applications from individuals with experience or interest in:
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Farming, food production or food systems
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Business, finance, law or nonprofit governance
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Community development, education or public health
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Marketing, communications or fundraising
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Policy, advocacy or regional planning