Gray Harris
Senior Advisor, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural Development
Gray Harris is the senior adviser for food system finance at Rural Business–Cooperative Service at USDA RD, where she helps to develop and oversees food supply chain programs and the overall food system strategy at the Agency. Prior to this role, Gray developed and led the agriculture and food system finance and business strategy for a rural Community Development Financial Institution in Maine, growing a portfolio from $200,000 to over $45 million in loans and investments in over 140 farm and food businesses in Maine and the New England region. This included establishing the Catalyst Fund, an early-stage place-based equity fund for emerging food businesses that sourced from Maine sustainable agricultural and seafood producers, and invested $2 million in 13 Maine and New England food companies, accounting for 160 jobs. In addition, Gray created impact programs providing Federal Covid-19 relief funding to Maine farmers and food supply chain businesses in partnership with public and private partners. Gray has contributed strategic leadership on many boards to build a strong and resilient local food economy that benefits farmers, supply chain businesses and consumers.
