Paula Stocker

Farmers Market Manager

Paula’s fascination for locally-sourced food began when she was just a child shopping farmers markets with her mother and grandmother. In adulthood, having lived in California’s ag-focused Bay Area as well as exploring and studying markets throughout Europe and Morocco, she found the fascination instilled in her early years had grown into a passion for food systems and enabling the vital role they play in the physical and overall health of every community.

She translated her passion into a professional tenure with Whole Foods Market for more than 20 years. In her role with KC Commercial Realty Group as Farmers Market Manager, she remains focused on seeking out local food producers and cultivating partnerships to bring the highest quality products to the market. She is also versed in and dedicated to working with state and local health departments to ensure the highest standards in food safety among City Market vendors. She oversees all aspects of the Farmers Market and is responsible for vendor recruitment and curation, farm site visits, vendor contracts, collections, licensing & permitting, and the administration of food assistance programs.

“We are blessed to live in an area with such a vibrant diverse food culture,” Paula says. “It is critical that we support local growers and respect the magnificent heritage of our region while nurturing the next generation of local producers.”

Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Houston. She volunteers at the KC Farm School at Gibbs Road whenever possible.