USDA Appoints New Members to the National Organic Standards Board

Date
Thursday, September 18, 2014 - 11:00am

Release No.: 200-14

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2014 – Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) today, adding valuable perspectives to the 15-member advisory board. The appointees will serve five year terms, beginning on January 24, 2015, and ending on January 24, 2020.

“Since the NOSB serves as a gatekeeper for allowed and prohibited substances, it is essential that members fully understand both organic principles and the realities of organic farming,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Each of these appointees brings a wealth of knowledge about the organic community and is a valuable addition to the NOSB as it carries out its duties.”

The new members will fill positions that are specifically designated to represent various sectors of the organic community, including those who have expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation, own or operate an organic production or handling operation, or own or operate a retail establishment with significant trade in organic products. The appointees include: 

  • Ashley Swaffer, Fayetteville, Arkansas, will fill the open producer seat on the board. Swaffer currently serves as the Director of Special Projects at Arkansas Egg Company. Swaffer has been involved in all aspects of organic egg production at Arkansas Egg Company, including managing organic certification, managing all aspects of operations, and plant food safety audits. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas. 
  • Tom Chapman, Belmont, California, will fill the open handler seat on the board. Chapman currently serves as the Sourcing Manager for Ingredients for Clif Bar and Company in Belmont, California. Chapman has worked in the organic industry for 12 years, and has demonstrated a robust working knowledge of the organic standards and principles. He has a Political Science degree from the University of California, San Diego. 
  • Lisa de Lima, Gaithersburg, Maryland, will fill the open retailer seat on the board. de Lima currently serves as the Vice President of Grocery for MOM’s Organic Market, which sells only 100 percent organic produce. She has 16 years of experience in the organic retail foods industry. She holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of Vermont. 
  • Paula Daniels, Los Angeles, California, will fill the environmental protection and resource conservation seat on the board. Daniels serves as the Senior Advisor on Food Policy for Los Angeles, California, but she is currently on sabbatical to write and teach in the area of food policy. Previously, Daniels was a commissioner with the California Coastal Commission, served on the governing board of the California Bay-Delta Authority, taught food policy at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and founded the Los Angeles Food Policy Council. Daniels holds a Juris Doctor Degree from Southwestern University School of Law, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. 

Made up of dedicated public volunteers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, NOSB members include four organic farmers, two handlers, three environmentalists, three consumer advocates, a scientist, an organic retailer, and an organic certifying agent. 

The NOSB was established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), to assist in developing standards for substances used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on aspects of the National Organic Program (NOP). 

As the agency responsible for overseeing the NOSB, the Agricultural Marketing Service ensures that membership accounts for the needs of the diverse groups served by the USDA.

For further information about the NOSB, visit www.ams.usda.gov/nosb

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