Our staff

All Midwest Food Connection teachers have degrees in elementary education and current or recent state of Minnesota teaching licenses.

Uli Koester - Executive Director & Educator

Uli taught for six years in the Minneapolis Public Schools before starting full-time work for Midwest Food Connection.  Over his years with MFC, Uli has become widely recognized as a master educator and expert on children’s relationship to food. He loves baseball, his cello, and traveling. Uli shares his garden at home with his wife, two elementary-aged children, and a host of rabbits.

Haruko Ruggiero - Educator

Haruko Ruggiero has been teaching students of all ages in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis - St. Paul) for over ten years. She has been a patron of natural foods co-ops from very early on and has learned a great deal of the "how to's" of eating natural, less-processed foods from her elders. She enjoys helping kids learn to make informed decisions regarding their food choices; and delights in their enthusiasm for handling fresh foods. Some of Haruko's favorite after-school activities include being with her young daughter, making tile mosaics, gardening, swimming, cooking, reading and writing.

Ginger Pearson - Educator

Ginger has been an educator for many years. She has worked in the public schools, in social services, has done birth and breastfeeding support and also taught cooking classes. She feels particularly blessed to be teaching young children the delights of natural foods with Midwest Food Connection and also enjoys playing tennis, painting in pastels, and being in the Northwoods with her sister, two (almost) grown children and her dog, a Goldendoodle.