Eleanor Gray

Eleanor grew up on a small farm in central Minnesota and knows that keeping our food safe starts at the farm. Her mother and father have been farming for nearly forty years, and her older brother recently joined the family business raising beef cattle and sheep. Eleanor knows her work at OFT helps shape a food system that elevates food producers, like her parents and brother, who prioritize the quality and safety of their food products over their bottom lines.

“Foodborne illnesses are so personal because the simple act of eating can change a person’s life. The personal nature of foodborne illnesses is what drives our work at OFT. I am fortunate to truly get to know our clients—their stories, their illnesses, their recoveries—and our advocacy is rooted in those stories. I’m proud of the work we do every day on behalf of our clients.”

While working full-time, Eleanor attended law school and graduated with honors. During law school, she took Brendan and Ryan’s food law class and, after seeing their dedication to their work and their clients, knew she had to join OFT.

For nearly ten years, Eleanor worked at Student Legal Service, at the University of Minnesota, a small law office advocating for students. Before joining OFT, Eleanor clerked for the Honorable Patrick C. Diamond of the Second Judicial District Court of Minnesota.

Eleanor lives in Saint Paul with her husband Brandon and their two cats, Jeff and Mijo, and their dog, Hilda. Eleanor is an avid birdwatcher and has seen nearly 200 species of birds. She keeps track of the peregrine falcon family living on a skyscraper near the OFT office.