Margaret Krome

Margaret Krome has spent thirty years developing programs and policies supporting sustainable agriculture. Krome’s interest in agriculture dates back to her childhood, as the grandchild of a Florida avocado and citrus grower. She holds an English degree from University of Virginia, and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Nelson Institute, which she attended after serving as an agroforester in the Peace Corps, in Cameroon. Krome remained in Wisconsin where worked for the Wisconsin Rural Development Center (1986-1995), and then joined the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) in 1995, where she continues to work today overseeing their policy program, including her work on the annual campaign to fund federal programs supported by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. An asset to sustainable agriculture in Wisconsin, Krome helped develop the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, the UW-Madison’s Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction program, the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program, and the state’s farm-to- school program, among others. Krome’s service to NCR-SARE includes her membership on the advisory committee for Wisconsin’s State SARE Program, where she offers input to Wisconsin State SARE coordinator, Diane Mayerfeld. In addition to her work with MFAI, Krome currently serves on the board of the National Center for Appropriate Technology and writes a bi-weekly editorial column for The Capital Times in Madison.