Organic Leadership Award Winners

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.The Organic Trade Association (OTA) selected Michael Funk of United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) and Mark Lipson of the USDA to receive its Organic Leadership Awards for 2011 for their commitment to the organic movement.

Funk, UNFIs chairman of the board, will receive the OTA Organic Leadership Award in the Growing Organic Industry" category, while Lipson, organic and sustainable agriculture policy advisor in USDAs Office of the Secretary and undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, will receive the award in the Growing Organic Agriculture" category. The 2011 Organic Leadership Award recipients will be honored at the Sept. 21 OTA Awards Gala during OTA Member Day activities at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, MD. Recipients will receive a hand-blown glass planet by artist Josh Simpson.

 Michael is truly committed to providing quality natural and organic products to consumers and is a tireless supporter of our industry," according to his nomination letter submitted by a UNFI colleague. A long-time environmental advocate, his care and stewardship for the environment are evident in the way he lives his own life as well as passion about proactively reducing his carbon footprint After many years of growing a successful business, he easily could have retired and enjoyed his good fortune, but instead, chooses every day to actively support, teach and inspire others."

Lipson joined USDA in June 2010, and his responsibilities include cross-agency coordination of organic farming policy issues and assisting with the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative.

 In his current position, Mark impacts organic policy on a daily basisAlways with the organic farmers best interests in mind, Mark continues to impact the growing organic industry that he helped to create," according to his nomination letter submitted by Maureen Wilmot, executive director at OFRF.