Nominations Are Due March 14, 2011
Contact: Laura Paine, 608-224-5120, Ashley Huibregtse, 608-224-5002
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is seeking nominations for four seats on its Organic Advisory Council. Individuals are encouraged to nominate themselves or another qualified candidate.
The Organic Advisory Council initially convened in 2007 to advise DATCP on the needs of the organic sector. The goal of the Council is to guide the development of organic education, research and marketing opportunities for Wisconsin farms and businesses, and provide input on state and federal policy that affects organic agriculture.
There are 12 members on the Organic Advisory Council. Council members include: three certified organic farmers, three organic business sector representatives, one organic consumer representative, one certification industry representative, one non-profit educational representative, and three at-large positions.
Member terms are on a three-year rotating basis. The current open seats include: an organic farmer, a business person that produces and sells organic products, a non-profit educational organization representative, and an at-large member.
To nominate a member for the Council, a nomination form and two letters of recommendation must be completed. Nominations must be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to DATCP by Monday, March 14, 2011.
Nominees need to be able to meet quarterly and participate in subcommittees and other activities. Nominations will be evaluated by a subcommittee of the Council, with final approval given by the DATCP Secretary and Board. The selected Council members will begin their terms at the July meeting of the Council.
Wisconsin ranks first in the nation with the most organic dairy farms and is the second largest state in the number of organic farms.
Council information and nomination forms are available online at datcp.wisconsin.gov, under Farms, Organic Farming. For questions or to be mailed a form, contact Laura Paine, DATCP’s Organic Agriculture Specialist, at 608-224-5120 or laura.paine@wisconsin.gov. Nominations can be faxed to 608-224-5110 or mailed to WI DATCP-DAD, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708.
