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Elizabeth Nardi to Join Organically Grown Company as Chief Executive Officer
OGC l by Tonya Haworth l August 25, 2016Northwest-based organic produce distributor Organically Grown Company (OGC) has recently welcomed Elizabeth (Darrow) Nardi as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nardi will join the company on October 4th, 2016.
Elizabeth is currently the Director of Operations for New Seasons Market, where she has held that position for the last 6 years. She has built a significant career working her way up in the natural grocery trade at New Seasons Market, from an Assistant Natural Foods Buyer and Front End Manager, to store service and general management. In her most recent role, she was leading a team that includes retail operations and a customer experience team.
Elizabeth's roots in the organic movement and grocery trade run deep. Hailing from Vermont, in her early career Elizabeth worked with the Northeast Organic Farming Association and the "Pure Food Campaign," and at Center for Food Safety where she lobbied as a grassroots organizer on issues ranging from labeling milk from cows treated with growth hormone (rBGH) to the regulation of genetically engineered foods. She then worked for Senator Patrick Leahy, cosponsor of the historic National Organic Foods Production Act, on legislative implementation.
"This is an incredible opportunity to work with an inspiring group of staff, growers, and others in the trade who are crafting and growing the future of the organic industry and transforming agricultural and workplace systems," said Nardi. "I am passionate about creating an environment where folks are empowered and enabled to do their best work. Tackling a huge challenge by taking it apart piece by piece, finding the right folks to figure out the solution, and then developing the plan that will solve the issue for the long term is one of the things I love doing most."
Elizabeth brings strong experience with creating and implementing major initiatives and policy shifts at New Seasons Market, while managing through rapid growth. She has a reputation for being a champion for investing in staff and creating a highly engaged workplace connected to the community.
Current interim CEO Andy Westlund looks forward to welcoming Elizabeth to her new role. He will be returning to OGC's Board of Directors and will facilitate Elizabeth's transition by serving as Executive Board Chair.
OGC worked with Portland-based Notogroup Executive Search (a certified B-Corp) to conduct its CEO search.
Find the press release here.
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Produce Report
The push toward fall fruit is starting to quicken, with major Northwest apple and pear varieties now being harvested, along with a host of other small volume and more unique options. Kiwi berries have also started up (aka Northern Hardy Kiwi), with peak volume expected in early to mid-September. The NW corn market has perhaps reached a low point as we head into next week. Abundant volume, even bin options for those ready to push high volume, is the storyline. There's still a decent amount of stone fruit and also plenty of melons to push, with the latter continuing to be a fine promotional opportunity for all departments.
Find the rest of the Produce Report here.
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Organic Demand Leads to Economic Gains For Farmers
The Organic Center l August 5, 2016
A study published in the Journal Scientia Horticulturae highlighted the increased global demand for organic tree fruits. The researchers looked at the total production area of organic tree fruit, and found that while most organic tree fruits represent 1-2% of the total production area for each category of fruit, avocado had a much higher proportion of organic production, with 8% of avocado production area being grown organically. Yield was variable for organic tree fruits, with the relative yield of organic ranging from 42% to 126% that of conventional fruit trees. The study also found that despite higher production costs for organic tree fruits, organic farmers had higher net returns due to organic premiums. The article concludes by citing new innovations aiding the organic sector and calling for further research that is needed to address organic farmer challenges such as invasive pests and climate change.
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| | In a time of increasing population growth, climate change and environmental degradation, organic farming could hold the answer. Photograph: Mint Images.
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Can We Feed 10 Billion People on Organic Farming Alone?
The Guardian l by John Reganold l August 14, 2016
In 1971, then US Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz uttered these unsympathetic words: "Before we go back to organic agriculture in this country, somebody must decide which 50 million Americans we are going to let starve or go hungry." Since then, critics have continued to argue that organic agriculture is inefficient, requiring more land than conventional agriculture to yield the same amount of food. Proponents have countered that increasing research could reduce the yield gap, and organic agriculture generates environmental, health and socioeconomic benefits that can't be found with conventional farming.
Organic agriculture occupies only 1% of global agricultural land, making it a relatively untapped resource for one of the greatest challenges facing humanity: producing enough food for a population that could reach 10 billion by 2050, without the extensive deforestation and harm to the wider environment.
Find the rest of the article here. |
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OFRF Releases Analysis of USDA Research
OFRF l August 2016OFRF released its analysis of organic research funded by the USDA Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Organic Transitions (ORG) competitive research grant programs. This in depth analysis of programs funded from 2002-2014 offers an unprecedented assessment of the progress these programs have made in addressing critical research needs, and also provides recommendations for future research investments by USDA.
For the report, OFRF and a team of advisors analyzed 189 organic agriculture research, education, and extension projects on a range of organic farming topics, finding that many of the projects delivered valuable information and tools to organic producers, while others laid the groundwork for future outcomes, including research data, new methods, and advanced plant breeding lines.
"Most of the OREI and ORG projects reflect the same organic research priorities OFRF identified in our 2007 National Organic Research Agenda, as well as the 2016 update we will be publishing in the coming weeks," said OFRF Research Program Director, Diana Jerkins. "Based on feedback from the organic farmers we interviewed in the U.S. last year, soil health and fertility continues to be the top priority research investment." Together, the results from OFRF's evaluation of USDA research and the organization's 2016 National Organic Research Agenda are expected to be highly influential in future research investments made by OFRF, USDA, and other research funding entities.
Find the rest of the article here and link to the report here.
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Trivia!
Keep playing for a chance to win!
From Last Week:
Have you heard the fantastic news? Organicology is coming back to town February 2 - 4, 2017! Join us in Portland, Oregon for the next chapter in the study of a sustainable food future. We just confirmed our final keynote in the lineup-a peach grower from California. You have probably heard about this family farm, tasted some of the juiciest, picked-at-its-peak fruit, or read some of their cookbooks. Which farmer will be keynoting the event?
Answer:
Mas Masumoto from Masumoto Family Farm!
How does trivia work?
Each week we tuck a juicy bit of organic knowledge into our produce report. Everyone who answers will be entered into our monthly drawing. Then, the first week of every month we'll pick a winner and contact them to choose between an OGC t-shirt, apron or hat. Reply with your answer by Wednesday after receiving your Market Report to be entered in the drawing.
We encourage everyone to join in the fun--the more the merrier!
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