Dec 6, 2019

USDA announces new members of the National Organic Standards Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Dec. 7 announced the appointment of five new members to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

“We appreciate the great work of the outgoing board members,” said Deputy Administrator Jennifer Tucker, who heads the USDA National Organic Program. “We know that these new members and our ten continuing members will keep the board representative of the knowledge, needs and passion of the community we serve.”

The NOSB is made up of 15 members representing the organic community. New members announced will serve five-year terms beginning in January 2020.

Nathaniel Powell-Palm operates a 1,000-acre certified organic farm, Cold Spring Organics, outside Belgrade, Montana. He is a first-generation farmer and rancher, with diverse experience across a range of crops, grains, and livestock. Powell-Palm has experience as an independent organic inspector and has developed and trained for the International Organic Inspectors Association. He has served on several agricultural boards in Montana. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Montana State University. Powell-Palm lives in Montana and will serve on the Board in a farmer seat.

Kimberly Huseman is currently the Director of Specialty Ingredients for Pilgrim’s, where she developed and oversees a large-scale organic grains and oilseeds origination program. She was previously the Commodities Manager at Murphy USA. Huseman has deep experience in organic grains handling and is a third-generation wheat farmer and cattlewoman. She holds a B.S. in Agriculture Business from West Texas A&M University. Huseman lives in Colorado and will serve on the Board in a handler seat.

Gerard D’Amore is currently with Munger Farms, with previous experience as the Director of Sourcing and New Business Development for SunnyRidge Farm and Dole Fresh and as the Vice President of Agricultural Development for Clear Springs LLC.  D’Amore has extensive experience in agricultural supply chain management, skills particularly relevant to support the integrity of organic products. He has also held several positions with Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. and Chiquita Brands. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland at College Park. D’Amore lives in California and will serve on the Board in a handler seat.

Mindee Jeffery recently became the Grocery Manager of Eastside Food Co-op, a community-owned local and organic food retailer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Previously, she acted as the Senior Regional Manager for the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association. She served as the Product and Standards Analyst during her fifteen-year tenure at Good Earth Natural Foods in Marin, California. Jeffery is a former Retailer representative to the California Organic Products Advisory Committee. She holds a degree in Literature from Sonoma State University. Jeffery lives in Minnesota and will serve on the Board in the retailer seat.

Wood Turner currently serves as Senior Vice President of Sustainability for Agriculture Capital. He was previously Vice President for Sustainability Innovation for Stonyfield Farm and was the founding Executive Director of Climate Counts. He sits on the boards of the Center for Good Food Purchasing and UC Berkeley’s Sustainable Food Initiative and previously was on the advisory board for Harvard University’s Center for Global Health and the Environment. Turner holds a B.A. from Duke University and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Washington. Turner lives in California and will serve on the Board in an environmental protection and resource conservation seat.

The NOSB is a Federal Advisory Board established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The Board operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to assist in developing standards for substances used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on aspects of the National Organic Program. Learn more about NOP and the Board on our website at www.ams.usda.gov/organic.