Marisa Alcorta is an emerging leader in agricultural workforce development, with 20+ years of experience working on and with a wide range of diverse farming operations. Currently director of the California Farm Academy Apprenticeship Program, she is committed to empowering agricultural workers to gain leadership and production skills that will advance their careers.

Marisa developed the first registered apprenticeship program in agriculture in the state of California in 2017. She helps bridge the gap between entry-level roles and leadership positions, fostering a new generation of skilled farm managers. Having observed a critical gap in professional development for Spanish-speaking agricultural workers, Marisa works to ensure that language-barriers do not hinder professional growth through the AgHiRE program. AgHiRE is the first Spanish-language leadership program for agricultural workers in the Sacramento region. 

Marisa has served on the board of directors for California FarmLink since 2018, leading the organization as board chair from 2020-2022. She is also a graduate of the 2021 The Lab Capacity building program, a leadership program for non-profit organizations. Marisa is proud to have been accepted into Class 54 of the prestigious California Agricultural Leadership Program. Marisa has degrees in plant science and agronomy from Cornell and UC Davis. She and her husband are co-owners of Terra Firma Farm, a 200-acre organic operation growing mixed vegetables, fruits, and nuts in Winters, CA.