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Shermain Hardesty, a former private consultant with an extensive background in food marketing and agricultural cooperatives, is Director of the University of California’s Rural Cooperatives Center. Hardesty previously was Director of the University of California's Center for Cooperatives until its closure in January, 2004.

Hardesty earned her B.A. (1973), M.S. (1974) and Ph.D. (1984) from UC Davis. Her graduate work focused on agricultural economics. Since 1991 she has been the principal owner of Davis-based Food Marketing & Economics Group, a consulting firm that has developed marketing strategies, assessed consumer demand for new products and analyzed agricultural cooperatives’ competitiveness. During this time she taught Getting Started in the Specialty Food Business for University Extension at UC Davis.

The center’s director also served as Senior Economist with Rice Growers Association of California, a West Sacramento marketing cooperative; Assistant Professor in agricultural finance at Michigan State University; a senior administrative analyst in planning and budget at UC Davis; and as a research associate with the California Hospital Association.