New Members Appointed to the National Organic Standards Board

Please join us in welcoming four new members to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).  The 15-member advisory board is comprised of representatives from across the organic community.  The new members will fill positions that are specifically designated to represent various sectors of the organic community. Their five year terms will begin on January 24, 2015.

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 & 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 hold a Juris Doctor Degree from Southwestern University School of Law, and a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. 

USDA thanks Joe Dickson, Jay Feldman, John Foster and Wendy Fulwider, whose terms will end in 2015, for their expertise and service to the organic community.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.

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