Maria Graziani holds an MBA from Carlow University and joined Penn State Extension in 2016. She is a former urban farmer and value-added producer who is currently part of a team that ensures agriculture in Pennsylvania is a thriving business that supports farming families, communities and commerce. Ms Graziani's engagement in agricultural economic research, entrepreneurship, and program development, is creating a systems-approach to local and regional food production and working to put the producer on the pulse of industry changes, advancements and opportunities.