Nicole Tocco Cardwell is the Project Director for the NH Food Alliance, part of the Backbone Team.

Nicole Tocco Cardwell

Program Director

As the NH Food Alliance’s Program Director, Nicole guides day-to-day operations and cultivate greater connectivity and alignment across the statewide food systems network.

Before joining the NHFA, Nicole oversaw strategic initiatives for Bon Appetit Management Company nationally. Her work included implementation of Bon Appétit’s groundbreaking social and environmental commitments, strengthening the company’s Farm to Fork (local sourcing) program, and engaging with college students about how to participate in systems change throughout the food industry.  

Nicole has a Bachelor of Business Administration from UMass Amherst and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University. She’s worked on agriculture and food systems issues from a variety of perspectives, including international conservation organization Rainforest Alliance, the Massachusetts Farm to School Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists.  She lives in Durham with her husband and two daughters, and can usually be found baking, gardening, or biking around town.