Remembering Naomi Kakiuchi
Naomi with Chef Justin Legaspi, sous chef at Bateau
“It is impossible for me to reflect back upon my many years working for NFM and not also think of Naomi Kakiuchi, “ reminisces Karen Kerschner, a former Market Manager at the Neighborhood Farmers Markets. “Her smile, grace, bright humor, and positive energy were often a welcoming haven for me amidst the hustle and bustle of each market day.” Karen describes Naomi’s wholehearted desire to share her own joy of cooking with the community while supporting small farmers.
Last month, Naomi passed away from cancer (Seattle Times obituary), but her light still shines bright over our farmers markets. Longtime staff member Thea Dunlap-Preuss recalled “Naomi really lit up the market. She greeted everyone with kindness, charisma, and enthusiasm. It is because of people like her that make the markets a fun place to work. She radiated positivity.”
Founder and longtime Executive Director Chris Curtis shared a remembrance that really brings Naomi to life. We honor Naomi’s life and take this moment to recognize her life and contributions to the markets.
Naomi Kakiuchi entered the Neighborhood Farmers Market world over 20 years ago. The NFM had received a grant in 2000 to pursue more food education programming and Naomi was recommended as a natural lead. She already had a great reputation as a culinary expert and educator and came highly recommended by other food professionals and colleagues in Seattle.
For over 17 years, Naomi helped the NFM markets establish their on-site cooking classes and coordinated these demos with Seattle’s best chefs. She was at the markets early on market day to shop, set up, provide essential tools and lend her professional skills and culinary knowledge to dozens of successful food education events. Naomi also made it her business to get to know the farmers who provided the top-notch ingredients for the demos and they became her fast friends.
It was so easy with Naomi. She was unfailingly gracious, poised, funny, and knowledgeable... and always knew what to say (and do) when things went awry…like a sound system screeching and a gas burner exploding. She managed to find a sponsor for the NFM's portable gas ovens (so chefs could move away from camp stove set-ups) and she convinced so many high-profile chefs to join us on market day to show off their stuff.
One of the market’s (U-District) oldest and most popular cooking events was the Ready, Set, Go…Cook! competition where 2 chefs went head to head preparing dishes from what was fresh on the farm tables that day. They were only allowed one secret ingredient of their own and had to make an entree and dessert in under 20 minutes. Things really got interesting when the University District Food Bank got involved and provided their own shelf-stable food bank offerings as part of the day-of ingredients. These events attracted hundreds of SRO market-goers -and local foodies fought for the chance to be a judge!
I will miss her smile, calm countenance, professionalism, and friendship. The Seattle culinary world has lost a very bright light.
Chris Curtis, Founder, Neighborhood Farmers Markets
August 15, 2021
