USDA Appoints New Members to Serve on National Organic Standards Board
The USDA has announced five new NOSB Members! NOC would like to welcome the following dedicated organic community members to Board service:
Kathryn Deschenes (Colorado) is appointed to the Handler seat. She is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Danone, which produces dairy, plant-based products, and infant food, including the Happy Family Organics brand. She holds both master's and bachelor’s degrees in Food Science and Technology.
Amanda Felder (California) is appointed to the Handler seat. She is the Organic Integrity and Environmental Compliance Manager at Taylor Farms, a leading producer of organic salads, where she oversees the organic compliance of a network of farming, food processing and manufacturing operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Andrea Hatziyannis (Arizona) is appointed to the Retailer seat. She is the Category Strategy Manager for Sprouts Farmers Market, a supermarket chain that specializes in organic foods and fresh produce. She brings 20 years of industry experience in product development, retail, and research. She holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Food Science.
Cathleen McCluskey (Wisconsin) is appointed to the Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation seat. She is the Policy and Advocacy Director for Organic Seed Alliance, a national organization that conducts research and training with seed producers and develops policies for organic seed, food, and farming systems. She holds a Doctorate in Environment and Resources and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Systems Analysis.
Corie Pierce (Vermont) is appointed to the Farmer seat. She’s the owner and operator of Bread & Butter Farm, a 600- acre diversified organic vegetable and grass-fed beef and pork farm in Vermont. She also teaches organic farming at the University of Vermont. She holds a bachelor's degree and a certificate in AgroEcology.
NOC Thanks Outgoing Board Members
NOC would also like to extend our deep gratitude to the five Board members who have served for the past five years in these seats: Jerry D’Amore, Kimberly Huseman, Mindee Jeffery, Nate Powell-Palm, and Wood Turner. We are so grateful to you for your service and the opportunity we’ve had to work with you over the past five years.
Learn More About the NOSB
The NOSB is a 15-person advisory Board that plays a critical role in protecting the integrity of organic agriculture and keeping toxics out of organic production and processing. The National Organic Coalition is deeply engaged in the work of the NOSB - we submit in depth testimony in advance of each Board meeting.
You can learn more about the NOSB here or check out NOC’s recent webinar on ‘Demystifying the NOSB.’