By: Pamela Honey

Keeping TFFJ Farms Growing: Mo Urzola Tellez Named 2026 Rising Star in New York City’s Food Policy

We’re proud to celebrate Mo Urzola Tellez, Teens for Food Justice’s Senior Hydroponic Systems Coordinator, on their selection as a 2026 40 Under 40 awardee by the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center.

Mo came to food justice work by accident, though you wouldn’t know it now. During the early days of the pandemic, they were looking for physically active work after realizing that staring at a screen all day wasn’t sustainable. They applied for a temporary role supervising students during the construction of TFFJ’s Far Rockaway farm. When the SYEP program paused due to Covid safety protocols, Mo and a small TFFJ team built the farm themselves over six weeks. That’s where they fell in love with the work: using their body to measure, drill, cut, and create.

Since joining TFFJ in 2020, Mo has become the person our staff depends on when something breaks, when a new system needs to be installed, or when troubleshooting requires someone who thinks mechanically. Across all TFFJ’s school-based hydroponic farms in New York City and Denver, Mo oversees system functionality and leads the construction of new farms. That means drilling, measuring, cutting, and assembling commercial-scale hydroponic systems inside school buildings. It means responding when pH levels spike or pumps fail. It means working behind the scenes so students and teachers can focus on what happens in front of the farm: learning, growing, harvesting. Their role is technical, but the impact is deeply human: every repaired pump, every recalibrated nutrient system, and every successfully installed farm creates the conditions for students to continue harvesting bok choy, adding fresh basil to pesto, or leading a tour for community members.

Four years later, Mo’s expertise keeps TFFJ’s farms operational and growing. They troubleshoot issues at farm sites across two states. They co-create spaces that provide fresh food, natural greenery, and learning environments inside school buildings. On days when the work is frustrating, they know the behind-the-scenes work matters because it keeps the farms running for students, staff, and community members.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to work behind the scenes to maintain the systems across our farm sites and help keep the leafy greens going and growing,” Mo said. “Shout out to my colleagues. They’re some of the most passionate, hard-working people I know. They keep me going and growing, too.”

In their profile for the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, Mo describes the current food system in one word: evolving. When asked what food system issue deserves more attention, they point to trash, recycling, composting, and food waste. They recommend the Sanitation Foundation’s Trash Academy for anyone interested in learning more.

We’re honored to have Mo on the TFFJ team and proud to see their work recognized on a citywide stage. Congratulations, Mo, and thank you for keeping our farms growing. You can read more about Mo and learn about the other 2026 awardees on the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center website.❦

Pamela Honey is the Communications & Content Coordinator at Teens for Food Justice.