A.M. Todd recently introduced Mooreganics. This name captures the heritage of Moore Ingredients, which A.M. Todd acquired during the first quarter of 2007. Over the last 15 years, Moore Ingredients has created and manufactured many certified organic specialty ingredients. The company offers a full line of certified organic isolates, colors and flavors.

Natural Dairy Products has recently started processing out of a new facility in Reading, Pennsylvania. The new facility will be churning butter, producing sour cream and making buttermilk. The new plant also has spray drying capabilities to meet the growing need of organic dairy powders. Producing their own retail pack and bulk ingredients means they will be able to offer better pricing and inventory.

Organic Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative, welcomed its 1,000th farmer-owner this month: Bob Baker’s dairy farm in Enumclaw, Wash. The Baker’s organic milk will be processed in Seattle and distributed directly into the local marketplace, just miles from his farm. Sales from Organic Valley go back to these 1,000 farm families within their rural communities coast to coast, benefiting local schools, parks, locally owned businesses, and of course the land.

Horizon Organic’s farmer-partner network now exceeds 400 family farms. Through the second quarter of 2007, Horizon Organic welcomed 79 newly certified dairy farms into its family of farmer-partners, three times the amount over the same period last year. Nearly 100 additional family farmers are in the process of transitioning to certified organic with the help of the Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) program, which provides dairy farmers with education, as well technical and financial assistance during transition.

Bruce Peterson has joined Naturipe Farms as president and chief executive officer. Peterson is a 37-year veteran of the produce industry, most recently president of Peterson Insights, Inc. Prior to that, Peterson spent 15 years at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. where he launched and built the perishable foods division.

Lundberg Family Farms has appointed Nils-Michael Langenborg to the newly created position of vice president of marketing. Langenborg brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing for consumer products companies, with over 12 years in the natural foods industry working with top natural foods leaders including Strauss Family Creamery, Spectrum Organic Products, Whole Foods Market, White Wave Inc., Traditional Medicinals and Tom’s of Maine.

US Soy has announced the appointment of Larry Nichols as the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing. Responsible for marketing the company’s line of organic processed soy ingredients, Nichols brings over 36 years of food industry experience to US Soy, including working with Beatrice Food Ingredients (presently Kerry Foods), Kraft, Commercial Creamery Company, Pioneer Flour Mills and Dean Foods Company.

The Rodale Institute has announced the appointment of Timothy J. LaSalle as chief executive officer. The Institute is a nonprofit organization that has been pioneering the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming since 1947. Previously, Mr. LaSalle has worked with the Northwest Earth Institute, the Agriculture Education Foundation and many other nonprofits. For 12 years he was also a full professor at California Polytechnic State University. LaSalle will succeed John Haberern, the first president of the Institute, who retired after 46 years of leadership.