Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Board of Directors has re-elected Julia Sabin of Smucker Natural Foods to continue as its president for the coming year.

Other officers for 2010 include: Sarah Bird of Annie’s (who will serve as vice-president – US); Gunta Vitins of SunOpta (vice-president – Canada); Matt McLean of Uncle Matt’s Organics (secretary); Chuck Marcy, Healthy Food Holdings (treasurer); and Kristen Holt of Quality Assurance International (treasurer-elect).

In the recent OTA Board of Directors election, OTA trade member companies also re-elected Julia Sabin to the Board.

Elected to the Board for the first time were Chris Ely (co-founder of Applegate Farms), Kristin Holt (president of Quality Assurance International), and Gunta Vitins (director of public relations at SunOpta).

The election elicited a record number of votes, with over 30 per cent of eligible trade member companies casting ballots.

The Board also selected Leslie Zuck, executive director and co-founder of Pennsylvania Certified Organic, to fill an appointed seat on the Board.

Other members on the Board include Tony Bedard of Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Tom Cowell of Growers International Organic Sales, Nicole Dawes of Late July Organic Snacks, Todd Linsky of Cal-Organic/Grimmway Farms, Melody Meyer of Albert’s Organics, Kelly Shea of WhiteWave Foods, and Craig Weakley of Small Planet Foods.

Going off the Board with the completion of their terms are Marty Mesh of Florida Organic Growers/Quality Certification Services (serving since 2001), Lynn Clarkson of Clarkson Grain Company (serving since 2003), Hélène Bouvier of Organic Ranchers (serving since 2004), and Jack Erisman of Goldmine Farms (serving since 2007).