Kym Otterstedt

Kym Otterstedt serves as Farmer’s Market Coordinator II within the City of Santa Monica’s Economic Development Agency, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing local economic vitality through the planning, procurement, and operational oversight of community-based farmers’ market programs. Responsible for managing vendor selection, contract compliance, and logistical coordination for seasonal and year-round market operations, Otterstedt ensures alignment with the agency’s mission to strengthen small business capacity and public-facing commercial infrastructure. Her acquisitions primarily involve services related to event management, vendor procurement, temporary staffing, signage and equipment leasing, and community engagement support—all critical to sustaining accessible, equitable food systems and local entrepreneurship. Otterstedt cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse array of local vendors, including small-scale farmers, artisan food producers, mobile food vendors, and nonprofit organizations focused on food access and nutrition education. She prioritizes direct partnerships with independent operators and cooperatives over large-scale distributors, fostering a vendor ecosystem rooted in hyperlocal supply chains. Her contracting approach emphasizes relationship-based procurement, with recurring engagements with vetted, high-performing vendors who demonstrate consistent adherence to health, safety, and sustainability standards. While specific set-aside data is not available, Otterstedt’s procurement patterns reflect a strong institutional commitment to socioeconomic inclusion, consistently prioritizing participation by small, minority-, and women-owned enterprises. Her focus on community-based vendors aligns closely with the spirit of HUBZone and SDVOSB goals, even when formal certifications are not required, by creating pathways for underrepresented entrepreneurs to access municipal procurement opportunities. Her primary procurement activities center on NAICS codes related to food service (722), event planning (56143), and agricultural support services (11511). She specializes in procuring fresh produce, value-added food products, market infrastructure, and educational programming—domains requiring deep familiarity with food safety regulations, seasonal supply dynamics, and public health compliance. Otterstedt’s expertise lies at the intersection of local food systems, economic equity, and municipal event procurement.