OP Welcomes New Advisors

We are excited to announce the addition of several new members to our editorial advisory board. Our board members help us shape every issue of Organic Processing Magazine, from suggesting the best authors to identifying important trends. We welcome these four experts to our team:
Bená Burda, President, Maggie’s Functional Organics
Bená Burda began her career in the organic industry as an order-taker for Eden Foods where she learned about sustainable agriculture from a group of organic bean farmers. In 1992, after learning about the harmful effects of conventional cotton farming, she and a partner launched Maggie’s Functional Organics, which markets organic clothes that are kind to the body and good for the planet. In 1999, Burda helped form a worker-owned selling co-op in Nicaragua, which sews many of Maggie’s garments to this day.
Chuck Enderson, President, Country Choice Organic
Chuck Enderson, president of Country Choice Organic, has spent a lifetime in agriculture and the food industry. After working for many major food corporations, including Cargill and ConAgra, he landed at the Grain Millers Co., and started American Cereal Corp. in 1992. In 1995 he founded Country Choice Organic. Beginning with hot cereals, the company quickly expanded with the addition of a line of delicious organic cookies and flavored oatmeals.
Nancy Hirshberg, V.P. of Natural Resources, Stonyfield Farm
As VP of natural resources, Nancy Hirshberg is responsible for managing Stonyfield Farm’s organic program and identifying opportunities to improve the company’s environmental practices. She has been instrumental in leading Stonyfield’s transition to organic, and under her management, the organics program, which she began in 1994, now has annual sales exceeding $150 million, making Stonyfield Farm the leading manufacturer of organic yogurt in the world.
Tim Kapsner, Senior Chemist, Aveda
Tim Kapsner joined Aveda in 1993, where he’s developed many products, such as Lip Saver, Breath Elixir and the best-selling Phomollient and Self Control. Since 1998 he has focused on botanical research, exploring new raw materials and technologies to use in Aveda products. Today, Kapsner is primarily responsible for Aveda’s organic certification program. He wrote the first organic personal care standards, adopted by the Organic Crop Improvement Association in 1999, and he founded the cosmetics industry committee that is developing organic personal care standards with the help of OTA and NSF International.


Organic Trend Keeps Climbing
The 2005 Whole Foods Market Organic Trend Tracker, a survey of 1,000 Americans commissioned by Whole Foods Market, found that more than one-quarter of Americans eat organics several times per month and they’re consuming more now than ever before. The survey also showed that 65% of Americans have tried organic foods and beverages, jumping from just over half (54%) in both 2003 and 2004. The market for organic foods continues to grow, with 27% of respondents indicating they consume more organic foods and beverages than they did one year ago. Ten percent consume organic foods several times per week, up from just 7% last year.

According to the Trend Tracker, Americans are buying organic foods and beverages for a variety of reasons. The top three are: avoidance of pesticides (70.3 %), freshness (68.3%), and health and nutrition (67.1%). More than half (55%) buy organic to avoid genetically modified foods. Also, more than half of all respondents agree that organic foods and beverages are “better for my health” (52.8%) and better for the environment (52.4%).
Fresh fruits and vegetables remains overwhelmingly the most frequently purchased category of organic foods at 73%.. Produce is followed by non-dairy beverages (32%), bread or baked goods (32%), dairy items (24.6%), packaged goods such as soup or pasta (22.2%), meat (22.2%), snack foods (22.1%), frozen foods (16.6%), prepared and ready-to-eat meals (12.2%), and baby food (3.2%).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic label is also gaining attention. The 2005 survey shows that 40% of people notice the USDA’s green organic logo and clear organic labeling on the organic foods and beverages they buy, versus 19% in 2003.

Organic Processing Magazine is happy to announce the addition of Adam Haas to our team as OP advertising sales executive.

Joe Smilie, senior vice president of Quality Assurance International (QAI), has been appointed to the National Organic Standards Board (www.qai-inc.com), where he will serve as the Certifier Member Representative.

After nearly 16 years at the helm of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), Katherine DiMatteo announced her plans to leave her role as executive director (www.ota.com). There is no immediate date set for her departure, and she intends to remain at OTA through Spring 2006.

Oregon Tilth’s Board of Directors has appointed John Foster as the interim executive director (www.tilth.org). Over the past 15 years, John’s experience as an educator, researcher, inspector and reviewer has focused on sustainable and organic agricultural endeavors.

Jürgen Serr Herb-Service, Europe's market leader in organic herbs, spices and botanicals, has appointed Paul Mosbrucker as its American sales agent (www.herb- service.com). Mosbrucker has years of experience in organic herb sales, and his business, World Wide Organics, specializes in sourcing high quality organics from top international suppliers. Jürgen Serr Herb-Service also announced that Eckhart Kiesel, former president of Rapunzel Pure Organics in the U.S., has joined as its new director of operations. Kiesel will return to his native Germany after eight years in the US.

AIB International, in a joint effort with the American Food Safety Institute International (AFSII), now offers organic certification (www.aibonline.org).

Homegrown Naturals has acquired Annie’s Naturals (www.anniesnaturals.com). The acquisition brings Annie’s Naturals into Homegrown’s family of natural and organic brands. The current leadership of Annie’s Naturals will continue to play an active role in the evolution of the brand.

Radlo Foods, which markets organic Born Free Eggs, now uses Eggfusion’s laser-etching technology to etch each egg it produces with expiration dates and numerical codes to trace the eggs from the farm to the store (www.radlo.com).

Numi Organic’s Flowering Tea gift set won the Gold award for Outstanding Food Gift at the National Association of Specialty Food Trade award competition in New York last July (www.numitea.com). The gift set contains an assortment of black, green and white teas, and a glass pot for steeping.

Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD) has made Gary Sebek the new chief financial officer (www.auroraorganic.com). Sebek most recently served as president and chief executive officer for Rudi’s Organic Bakery.

New Hope Natural Media has appointed Elaine Lipson as organic program director (www.newhope.com). The organic program director serves as the lead expert within the organization on topics related to organic foods and the organic industry.

McDonald’s restaurants has partnered with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to source, roast and package Newman’s Own Organics Blend coffee for more than 650 McDonald’s restaurants in the Northeastern U.S. (www.gmcr.com).

Nature’s Path Foods has hired Simon J. Russell as its new chief financial officer (www.naturespath.com).

Chr. Hansen has made Jens Bigum, former CEO of Europe’s largest dairy company ARLA, its new chairman of the board (www. chr-hansen.com).

A&B Ingredients and Duas Rodas, a Brazilian food and flavor company, have entered an agreement through which A&B Ingredients will represent some of Duas Rodas’ products, such as tropical extracts and organic banana products, in North America (www.abingredients.com).

Endangered Species Chocolate Co. has hired
Michael Comparato as chief operating officer;
Curt Vander Meer as chief financial officer;
Curt Wagner as director of production;
and Kelly Bredl as executive assistant to the CEO
(www.chocolatebar.com).

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has approved Italian Organic Standards, (www.ifoam.org). Developed by a consortium of Italian certification bodies, the Italian Organic Standards represent the synchronization of their previously independent standards.

Savoury Systems International (SSI) has expanded its warehouse, lab and offices providing a full service operation for yeast extracts, HVPs, organic, and custom products (www.savourysystems.com). SSI has also acquired certification for a line of organic yeast extract-based flavor enhancers.

The World Board of IFOAM has also announced the appointment of Angela B. Caudle as executive director. Caudle will take over the position from Gerald A. Herrmann, the current IFOAM executive director.

WhiteWave Foods’ organic Silk Soymilk and Horizon Organic brands were recognized as Green Power Partners of the Year during the Green Power Leadership awards banquet in Austin, TX (www.whitewave.com, www.horizon.com). Both brands offset 100% of the electricity used in their supply chain with the purchase of Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.