Neil Hamilton is a professor of law and director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University in Des Moines. From 2000 to 2006 he served as the chair of the Iowa Food Policy Council, created by an executive order from Governor Vilsack. The Council was a twenty-three member board made up of state officials and citizens representing all parts of Iowa’s food system. The Council issued several reports and made sets of recommendations to the Governor which he used to improve the operation of Iowa’s food system - including improvements in the delivery of food assistance programs and identifying how to purchase more locally grown food in public institutions.

{ 0 comments }

I had the privilege of working side-by-side with Tom Vilsack during his eight years as Governor of Iowa.

I know from first-hand experience he is a person of great intellect and integrity. Tom Vilsack inspired those around him to work together for the common good and to rise to the challenges confronting our state.

As Governor, Tom Vilsack exhibited a commanding knowledge of the complex issues involved in agriculture, energy, conservation, health, and food safety. And, he was successful in bringing together opposing viewpoints.

His leadership and organizational skills combined with his ability to look for creative and transformative solutions have earned him the respect of farmers, environmentalists, agri-business leaders, natural food producers, conservationists, rural economic development interests, and nutrition and food policy experts.

President-elect Obama has made an excellent choice in Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture.

Sally J. Pederson
Former Lieutenant Governor of Iowa

{ 0 comments }

Over my thirty years of food and farming activism I have met and worked with many leaders in agriculture – nationally and internationally. This experience has given me the opportunity to observe the qualities of a strong leader. Tom Vilsack has the integrity and sincerity it will take to be the head of the USDA. As my governor of the state of Iowa, his appointments to state agencies were people who thought outside the box and who moved to change the way institutions work. This fits very well with the Obama promise of change.

I have not always agreed with the former governor but have found that his door was always open. He made himself accessible to those of us that pressed him on issues upon which we disagreed. He has been inclusive and forthright. In my opinion, a good leader listens to all points of view before arriving at a decision.

Tom Vilsack indeed does that. He has worked with the people of Iowa and knows firsthand the issues that confront us in the farm and food sector and what we have to do to advance the work of the sustainable, organic, conservation and health community in Iowa and beyond. He knows we are hardworking, serious individuals who believe passionately in the issues of food and farm. We can be certain that he will call upon us to advise him.

Denise O’Brien, farmer
Rolling Acres Farm
Atlantic, Iowa

{ 0 comments }

The recently concluded presidential campaign was based in large part on hope for and the promise of change. President-elect Barack Obama has selected a cabinet designed to reflect the racial and cultural diversity of the electorate, and more importantly with a charge to actually translate his vision into day to day actions. I believe he does intend to change business as usual and to the best of my ability I will hold Barack Obama to his word.

We know that the USDA needs deep, systemic changes in the way it operates. In the hope that Governor Tom Vilsack will in fact implement the type of change the USDA sorely needs, I wish to endorse his nomination for Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture and urge confirmation at his upcoming Senate hearings.

In recent weeks I have spoken to many of my colleagues in Iowa and to others in the sustainable and organic agriculture communities nationwide. They spoke of a governor who listened seriously to their concerns and when politically possible provided workable solutions. Mind you I have no illusions concerning how “Washington works” and the challenges facing a USDA (never mind the nation and the world!) mired in systems that are unsustainable and in many cases broken beyond repair. The agro-industrial status quo will not easily give up its hold on power. Nevertheless many of us are working hard to advance highly qualified candidates for the Deputy Secretary and the under secretary positions. Governor Vilsack and the Obama Transition committee have taken our nominations seriously, and I believe they are working to bring a number of these candidates into the new USDA leadership.

I believe that we cannot effect change unless we continue to make our voices heard in the corridors of power. We have to do this as small businesses, non-profit organizations, individuals and family farmers. We have to achieve sustainable and organic solutions to food, energy, agricultural, and environmental systems in great peril. We have to be positive but realistic about making healthy food and farming part of the new administration’s recovery and reform agenda. We have already forwarded our policy recommendations to the transition team. I expect Tom Vilsack and the new administration will listen to our proposals and I look forward to working with him as we all move forward to implement them.

Bob Scowcroft
30 year advocate for organic farmers and ranchers

{ 1 comment }

I have worked in the organic foods industry for over 30 years and I am proud to support President-Elect Obama’s choice of Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture. I think he is an excellent choice and will handle the extremely challenging task of reforming the Department of Agriculture with the same skill and aplomb that he brought to the job as Governor of Iowa for eight years.

I got to know Tom Vilsack three years ago. I had known of him and had followed his career as Governor since the early 90’s. His Lt. Governor for eight years, Sally Pederson and her husband Jim Autry are good friends of mine. Jim and I coauthored a book on leadership in 2006. In “The Book of Hard Choices” we profiled Governor Vilsack. It was through this project that I got to know his incredible story and to meet him personally.

When Tom decided to run for president, I was a strong supporter and worked diligently to further his candidacy. Why? Because of his track record, his skill set, his values and who he is as a person and a leader.

He was one of the most successful Governors in the country for eight years and was recognized by his fellow governors across the country as being so. Iowa’s economy was thriving and they were among the leading states in innovation the development of clean industry when he left office. What is also impressive he Tom Vilsack governed masterfully as a Democrat in a state where the legislature was controlled by Republicans. He continually reached across the aisle and worked cooperatively to get things accomplished. He is an excellent listener, and an avid consumer of information. He listens to both sides of any argument and then decides which path makes the most sense. Much like what we have come to admire in our President elect, and I suspect a reason why he was selected by Obama to reform one of the largest and most dysfunctional departments in Washington.

As Governor, Tom Vilsack has always been a strong voice for the environment, conservation, organic farming and the development of alternative fuels. As a presidential candidate Tom was the first to speak forcefully about our need for energy independence. I am very confident he will bring these values to the Department of Agriculture. We need good leaders in Washington, and Tom Vilsack is a great leader.

Peter Roy
Pawleys Island, South Carolina

{ 6 comments }

I have known Tom Vilsack for eleven years. I supported him in his campaign for Governor of Iowa to which he was elected—the first Democrat to win the job in thirty years.

When Governor Vilsack first went into office, he asked me to come lead a values workshop with his staff (pro bono of course), something I’ve done with businesses in this country and abroad for many years. I confess I was surprised that a newly elected governor would want to lead his staff through the process of establishing exactly what values they would honor and exhibit. This means how they would work together, how they would work for the people of Iowa, how they would work with the legislature, and how they would work with the opposition party.

The product of the workshop was a list of shared values. I was told that Governor Vilsack carried those values in his briefcase to share them with whoever was interested.

I’ve known a lot of CEOs and leaders of various kinds of organizations, and I recognize the characteristics of a good leader; by that I mean a leader who recognizes that he or she is first to serve the people who are to be led, who accepts the responsibility of articulating the vision of the organization, and who works to assure that the people have the resources they need.

Tom Vilsack is such a leader. And he is an exceedingly decent human being.

I’ve watched him closely for these eleven years, and I must also add that he is one of the brightest people I’ve ever met. He listens. He honors the viewpoints of others. And he makes himself familiar with the intricacies and subtleties of every situation. (I used to joke that he was the only person in Iowa who could quote from the massive utilities deregulation bill.)

What we need in a Secretary of Agriculture is a person who understands the inherent challenges and conflicts built into such a sprawling department, and who is willing to make sure that every interest is represented at the table and is given a voice in the discussion.

I can’t imagine what more we could ask of an Ag Secretary. And I can’t imagine a better choice than Tom Vilsack.

James A. Autry, author
Love & Profit; Real Power; The Servant Leader; The Book of Hard Choices; and others.

{ 0 comments }

I am pleased to add my name to the list of strong supporters of Tom Vilsack as our next USDA Secretary.

I have been active in the organic and natural foods movement and industry for 32 years. Currently, I am the Chairman and CEO of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt company with 2008 revenues of over $320 million. We started our company as a 7-cow organic farming school and have been working on behalf of organic family farmers for over 25 years. We buy organic milk and other ingredients from hundreds of farms across the US, including many in Iowa. I sit on the boards or am an active investor in 8 organic foods companies with total sales approaching a billion dollars. Suffice it to say that I am a lifelong and deeply dedicated advocate for organic family farms.

I have known Governor Vilsack for several years and spent an extensive amount of time with him and his wife Christie on the road in several states during his early run for the presidency. He and I have taken many trips alone together and had extensive time in planes and car rides to share and exchange views. I’ve met with him and many former members of his administration in Iowa and have also had intimate and revealing conversations about Tom with people ranging from his successor, Governor Chet Culver to Senate Ag Chairman Tom Harkin to Iowa organic dairy farmers who supply my company’s milk, to faculty and students at Iowa State where he taught and I have had the honor of lecturing.

I should also add that I am very active in politics here in my home state of NH where I have had the privilege of enjoying extensive interactions with nearly all of the leading US presidential candidates for the last 20 years and a great many governors, senators and congressional representatives who have supported them. I have developed a keen and critical BS detector and an ability to learn about the actual men or women behind their public personae. And I can state unequivocally that among these 20 or 25 leading figures, none have earned more of my respect and support than Barack Obama and Tom Vilsack. I consider both men to be among the fairest, most compassionate, ethically and morally principled politicians I have ever met.

I need to be very clear that I am neither blindly nor universally supportive of all of Governor Vilsack’s positions. Indeed, as he is very well aware, I disagree with a number of his past decisions. But even on the issues about which we disagree, I have found Tom to be an open-minded, excellent listener who is genuinely interested in opposing views, and who is actually able to change his views based on new findings. My support for his candidacy as Ag Secretary derives less from his specific views and historic voting record and more from his overall character, outlook, judgment and capacity to hear all sides of an issue and then make reasoned and sound decisions.

With that said, I will add that I do agree with most of Tom’s judgments, and believe that we could not find a better leader for an agency that is in desperate need of a deep renovation and a long-term vision that truly embraces sustainable solutions. In a nutshell, Tom Vilsack gets it.

He deeply understands issues of sustainability, of climate change and of the toxification of our nation’s air, water and soils that have resulted from short-term, short-sighted thinking. He has taken principled and visionary positions on biofuels and courageous stands in a corn state that corn is NOT the long-term answer. He deeply understands the critical role that family farmers must play in a resource-stressed planet and believes in the need for new, out-of the-box thinking and solutions that will not just slow the deterioration of our nation’s farms, soils, ecosystems and biodiversity but will actually begin the process of restoring these broken systems. He respects ecology.

Tom believes in technologic innovation but is not blind to the threats and problems posed by, for instance, biotechnology. Just as he has been among the nation’s truly visionary politicians with wind power, he also sees the promise of the organic foods industry and will be the best organics champion we’ve ever had in that role.

Tom will also be a leader in an area that gets too little attention – the nutritional quality of our nation’s foods, especially the foods we serve to those in need. As Deb Kozikowski of Rural Votes reports in a recent essay, Governor Vilsack is committed to put “nutrition at the center of all food-assistance programs.” In short, he understands the complicated relationship between nutrition and obesity and recognizes that in the end, agriculture is actually about nutritive food.

But as I stated at the outset, it is not so much his views, but his character and experience that lead me to support this superb nominee. For starters, he has actually governed and managed a large administration, and has proven that he can bring much needed leadership to a tired and gridlocked bureaucracy where special interests rule. His track record as Governor clearly belies his willingness to challenge sacred cows and bring a clear and fresh reformist view to help modernize an agency that is still trapped in the 20th century.

As our nation grapples with the most difficult economic challenges in 80 years, as well as a need for deep introspection about our overall approaches to energy and food, the USDA is likely to be in the center of an endless stream of firestorms with special interests battling to hold on to power. We are going to need a fighter in that role, but even more, a leader who can bridge partisan divides. Tom Vilsack certainly fits the bill. He was an overwhelming underdog in each of his 9 political races and won every one. Iowa hadn’t elected a Democrat governor in 32 years when he first won in 1998 after eight years as a mayor. Governor Vilsack has a remarkable ability to connect with people, even his fiercest and most emotional opponents.

By any measure, Tom Vilsack was an effective and successful governor. Thanks to his efforts, Iowa leads the nation in the development of renewable energy. A record number of Iowans are employed. Their education test scores are second in the nation. More Iowa women and children have health care coverage than any other state. He balanced a budget 8 years in a row while eliminating 3 state government departments and lowered taxes every year. Fortune Magazine ranked Iowa first in the nation for quality of life.

A true bipartisan leader, he accomplished all of this with a Republican controlled legislature by appointing the best cabinet members, regardless of party affiliation. He values expertise and competency over political ideology.

The Obama Administration is inheriting some of the toughest challenges in history. Even aside from our broken financial system, we now must face squarely the prospect of feeding and fueling a nation while abandoning our historic reliance on unsustainable resources and polluting practices. Nothing less than true and deep agency and policy renovation will be required, and this means that we need principled leaders who can break through traditional gridlocks to offer not only new solutions but also the means to enact them. This is a time to come together around new leaders with proven track records of delivering on new solutions. Tom Vilsack has exactly the experience, character, temperament and judgment to steer one of the nation’s and the world’s most important agencies. I look forward to supporting his efforts to bring true change that is needed now more than ever.

Gary Hirshberg, Chairman, President and CEO, Stonyfield Farm, Inc.

{ 0 comments }

As co-founder of UNFI, the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of natural and organic foods, I would like to endorse Tom Vilsack for the Secretary of Agriculture position that he has been nominated for.
In conversations that I have had with him I have found him to be intelligent, thoughtful and open to considering divergent views. I believe he will represent many of the views of the sustainable agriculture community and work towards supporting positive change in the new administration. Tom has shown he is a successful leader whose integrity is beyond reproach. We believe President-elect Obama’s selection of Tom Vilsack is a positive one for the sustainable foods industry as well as the nation as a whole.

Michael Funk
UNFI
Co-Founder and Chairman

{ 0 comments }

I first met Tom Vilsack in the fall of 2007 at a small group dinner in Menlo Park California. Tom was actively exploring a run for the presidency, and our discussion that evening was a stimulating and engaging consideration of the many issues facing our country and world.

Based on our time together that evening, I began to volunteer in support of the campaign and spent considerable time with the Governor over the next four months that he was in the race, including traveling through Iowa. This experience gave me the opportunity to see the Governor in action – his intelligence and passion, his love of country, his respect for others and their respect for him, his ability to listen, and above all his capacity to lead.

We need new leadership and new vision at the USDA. We need substantial change in the policies, practices and even culture of this federal agency. I believe Tom Vilsack can bring that leadership and vision for the following reasons…

Personal qualities. From my own direct observation, Tom is honest, respectful, open and genuine. From everything I have seen he is a man of high integrity and strong character. All of these qualities are both essential and desirable for responsible public sector leadership.

Track record. Governor Vilsack has a successful track record of running the State of Iowa for 8 years. Despite declining revenues, Vilsack expanded Iowa’s economy and created more jobs, while still balancing the budget without raising taxes and in fact providing some form of tax relief each year. He did this by creating a new vision for the state’s future, and working with a Republican state legislature to move the state forward. At the same time he was a reformer who reorganized and consolidated state departments, reformed the budget process, and downsized the state government workforce through attrition. He also brought a new transparency to government programs through innovative use of the internet to post annual accountability on state programs. This type of fiscal discipline, ability to set priorities, and willingness to make tough choices, is exactly the type of real world experience necessary to bring change to a large federal agency.

Critical thinking. Governor Vilsack has the ability to think critically about issues and the challenges facing the country. If you look back on his short presidential campaign, you will see he was the first candidate to suggest the limitations of the military solution in Iraq, frame it as an unwinnable war, and remind us of the unfinished work in Afghanistan. He also was the first candidate to layout a comprehensive plan for energy independence. Check out his speech to the Commonwealth Club of California in January 2008. These are just a couple examples of his ability to think originally and synthesize information. This ability to think critically is essential in a leader who hopes to not do the same old thing but find new ways forward.

A big view. As evidenced in his presidential campaign themes, Governor Vilsack has the ability to understand agriculture and forestry within a larger 21st century context of our energy use, our health care crisis, and climate change. This is not just about farmers, ranchers, and foresters this time around, but also about food, nutrition and health for our communities and all Americans.

Inclusiveness. Governor Vilsack has consistently demonstrated an inclusiveness and ability to bring people together to solve problems and create solutions. I have personally watched him do that many times with people from very different political persuasions over the dinner table – finding common ground but also staking out higher ground. Leaders who include all stakeholders create better solutions.

A compelling life story. Governor Vilsack was an orphan, raised by adopted parents. I was with him on the campaign trail the first time he learned the identity of his birth mother. He started out being counted out, and so is used to taking nothing for granted. You can figure how much he appreciates the opportunities this country offers, and I believe that translates into a willingness to work tirelessly to make it better.

Obama picked him. President-elect Obama picked Governor Vilsack for this position, and he will serve within the framework for change set out by Obama. Lets give Obama the benefit of the doubt on his pick.

I want to also be clear that I do not agree with Governor Vilsack on every issue, most notably GMOs. Nor would I expect to with any individual nominated. But I also know that he understands organic farming, the importance of small farms, and the value of the local food economy. And from my own direct experience I know that he will be open and listen, will broaden the conversation to include all perspectives, will look for a new fusion of common sense and vision, and will change and evolve based on new information and evidence. Those are all signs of a good leader. Right now on the internet there is substantial misinformation and exaggeration regarding Governor Vilsack from some members of what is loosely called the sustainable food community. One of the reasons for doing this site is to make it clear that those voices do not speak for all members of that community, and in fact to show that there are many in this community who support this nomination. I am proud to count myself as one of those supporters, and believe Governor Vilsack will do an outstanding job as the next Secretary of Agriculture.

Walter Robb

Founder/Operator, Mountain Marketplace Natural Grocery, 1977-1987
General Manager, Living Foods Co., 1987-1990
Store Manager/Regional President, Whole Foods Market, 1991-2001
Co-President/Chief Operating Officer, Whole Foods Market, 2001-Present
Founding Board Member, The Organic Center
Former Board Member, Organic Trade Association

{ 5 comments }

Tom Vilsack is a great candidate for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He is the type of person that campaigns hard but realizes that when the campaign is over, it’s time to govern. And to do that effectively, you have to work together to get past ideology or party to get things done. He brings a very thoughtful approach to public policy and can work with environmentalists, conservationists, ag interests, consumers, and economic development interests to develop consensus on complicated issues.

While farming is still an important component, agriculture is so much broader than the traditional sense of farming. It encompasses food, conservation, energy, and broader rural development. Those are all things we Iowans know something about and all issues Vilsack advanced as Governor. While some have tried to label Vilsack as an advocate for just one sector of agriculture, those labels simply do not fit Tom Vilsack or his record. If you look at the accomplishments of his eight years as Governor of Iowa, you will see a record of advancing many policies that were good for the people of Iowa. Here are a few:

Food. When Vilsack first ran for governor in 1998, he articulated a vision for making Iowa the Food Capital of the World and focusing on what our state does best. Understanding our heritage as an agricultural state and the abundance of our natural resources, he made value-added agriculture and sustainable food production a priority. Vilsack created the Iowa Food Policy Council with a mission to develop initiatives and ideas to create a safe, nutritious and adequate food supply that balances economic, social and environmental impacts while providing maximum opportunities for everyone involved in the food system. He made changes to the Beginning Farmer Loan Program to help more farmers get started, and he also led trade missions to market products such as organic soybeans.

Conservation. As a leader in the National Governors Association, Vilsack led a national Private Lands, Public Benefits conference to focus on the need to address conservation through the Farm Bill by providing incentives to private landowners to implement conservation practices. He also created a comprehensive conservation program in Iowa to encourage and assist landowners in installing buffer strips, restoring wetlands, and rewarding good conservation practices – making Iowa the leading state in buffer strips and other conservation practices.

Fairness. Vilsack established mandatory livestock price reporting to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship by packers. He also ensured a level playing field for Iowa pork producers by approving a state packer ban on ownership of livestock.

Energy. Under Vilsack’s leadership and vision, Iowa became a leader in alternative energy and renewable fuels. It began with corn-based ethanol, which paved the way for additional biofuels such as biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol. Vilsack also created a regulatory and financial environment in Iowa for wind energy to develop to the point that it now makes up 5.5 percent of the Iowa’s generation, the largest percentage of any state.

Having Vilsack in this position is a great thing for Iowa but even better for our country by having someone from the Heartland who understands the complexity of the issues facing our nation. I worked for Vilsack for ten years and have the utmost respect for him both personally and professionally. He is one that truly cares and will serve us well. It’s true that he doesn’t come from a farm, but you don’t need a farmer to lead a department of over 105,000 employees and a $95 billion budget. Vilsack knows how to lead, has demonstrated the ability to manage a large organization efficiently, understands the challenges facing agriculture today, and works hard to solve problems. Those are the qualities I want in a Secretary of Agriculture.

{ 0 comments }

I would support Tom Vilsack for just about anything because he is one of those rare people who can create harmony from very discordant views; humility guides his considerable actions; and he lives the adage “there are no unimportant people”.

I support him for Ag Secretary because the organic community has his ear - and he listens to people so he can make informed decisions for the good of all - not just a chosen few.

I support him because he’s smart enough, connected enough and experienced enough - but the difference with Tom Vilsack - because there are a lot of smart, connected, experienced people - the difference with Tom is that he is the TYPE of leader to bring about the change I voted for in the last election. Before Obama was a contender, Tom Vilsack was in the presidential race with the same promise of change that would come to brand Obama’s campaign: A promise of democracy. Of the opposite of hubris. Of creative fearlessness combined with inclusiveness. Of the people, by the people, for the people. This is what we will get with Tom Vilsack.

I support Tom Vilsack because he is willing to listen, learn, adapt and grow. He has a perfect set of skills for Agriculture.

Sharon Egan
President/CEO
Sun Valley Bar

{ 0 comments }

This is an excerpt from a longer entry posted on December 19 to Wayne Pacelle’s blog, A Humane Nation.

Vilsack was a top choice by The HSUS for the post [of agriculture secretary], and we believe he has the smarts and experience to bring this agency into the 21st century and to confront the enormous challenges that his predecessors have largely sidestepped. But it will be a tough job, and he’ll have to steel his spine for the job ahead. Vilsack clearly has the mettle to do this; as Iowa governor, he vetoed a bill to allow the shooting of mourning doves—an act that has saved more than 1 million doves from target shooting in the years since and cut against the conventional wisdom about disappointing and defying the NRA and the gun lobby. USDA is a dinosaur, with animal welfare programs an odd fit within an agency that has as its core mission the promotion of agriculture, including the production of animals for meat, egg and dairy products. USDA leaders, acting in concert with a variety of industries, have largely viewed animals as commodities, rather than living, feeling individuals, and their policies and enforcement actions have reflected that worldview and consistently fallen short of a responsible standard of conduct for years. We pledge to work with him, all the while advocating to advance the broad mission of The HSUS.

{ 0 comments }

As friends and long time business partners/associates in the organic and natural products industry, we now stand together at the threshold of a new era of sustainable business and responsible government. We also share an unprecedented opportunity to have a voice in the direction and policies that shape the future of our nation.

Barack Obama knows agriculture….he comes from a large farm state and he understands the complications, the conflicts and opposing views within the agricultural industry. He also knows how critical it is that our nation be well represented by an impartial, sensitive and highly intelligent Secretary of Agriculture. And I am certain that he employed his most careful consideration in his choice of Governor Tom Vilsack.

I’ve spent time with Tom Vilsack. He is a smart, decent guy, who listens well and (like Obama) pauses to reflect before speaking or forming an opinion…..these are the most important qualities of good leadership. And this is the quality and integrity of leadership we have all hoped for.

As governor of Iowa Tom had to negotiate, legislate and articulate balance among varying agricultural viewpoints. He has served and supported large and small organic and conventional farmers, their various suppliers (equipment manufacturers, chemical and seed companies), and the trade associations they work with. Tom Vilsack did a masterful job of governing these diverse and often competing interests.

As Governor Tom was also a strong voice for the conservation of natural resources. Most people don’t realize, but the Department of Agriculture oversees our national forests (which includes more land than the national parks overseen by the Dept. of Interior) and we desperately need practical leadership in the area of forest management. Tom has proven himself as a conservationist with initiatives focused on alternative energy development (Iowa is now the second highest producing state of wind energy) and bio fuels.

We must also consider that the department of agriculture oversees food safety, food stamp and school lunch programs. These are areas of critical importance that can benefit from our input on product ingredient safety and nutrition. Those of us in the herb and dietary supplement business are well aware of how much was accomplished with the passage of DSHEA and the support we received from Senator Orrin Hatch. This is I believe the kind of support and representation we can expect from Tom Vilsack.

Most important to all of us, Tom has familiarized himself with the organic and natural foods product industry. He has attended and spoken at our conferences/events, and he has earned the respect of many of our industry’s leaders. He understands the value and importance of our contribution to agriculture and the larger food industry, and we are fortunate to have an ally who appreciates our commitment to service, who will consider our needs, and advocate on our behalf.

I ask you to join with us in your support of president Obama’s choice of Tom Vilsack for Secretary of the Agriculture.

Thank you,

Drake Sadler
Co-founder & CVO
Traditional Medicinals

{ 0 comments }

This is a note of support for Tom Vilsack to be confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture. I have known Mr. Vilsack since early 2007 when he launched his early presidential campaign. During that time I listened to his wide and encompassing view of what a well planned, diversified agricultural policy would look like. Drawing off of his successful experience guiding the Iowan agricultural economy to success, Mr. Vilsack has also demonstrated a willingness to listen to and evaluate contradictory ideas and policies which weren’t initially part of his program. This open minded willingness to evaluate a broad based vision for our agricultural needs while listening to all particular interest group needs is the type of leadership we need to help solve not only our food challenges going forward but also what part our agricultural system will play in supporting local economies on one hand and helping to solve our longer term energy issues on the other. I strongly support Tom for this position and encourage others to do so as well.

Steve Demos
Founder White Wave, Inc.
Founder NextFoods, Inc.

{ 0 comments }

Dear Secretary-designate Vilsack:

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) extends its congratulations to you on being nominated to serve as Secretary of Agriculture.

Since before the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 established the National Organic Program, OTA has been an advocate for the funding needed to support the National Organic Program and other services the organic business community needs to succeed in an increasingly complex global market. OTA has 1,700 member businesses (large and small) from all parts of the supply chain, including organic farming, processing, distribution, exporting, and retailing, for food, textiles and personal care products. The members of the Organic Trade Association represent the majority of the organic products produced and sold across America.

As the leading voice for the organic industry, OTA looks forward to working with you, your Under Secretaries and the entire staff of the Department of Agriculture on issues critical to not only the organic agriculture and business community but the Department and American consumers as a whole. Organic agriculture, products and processing are an important and growing sector of the economy, even during these turbulent economic times. U.S. sales of organic products are expected to reach 23 billion dollars in 2008. Organic food and beverages are the fastest-growing sector of the food industry, with average growth rates in the high teens for the past decade.

OTA works on issues crucial to the organic business community including key provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill important to organic agriculture, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)’s support for farmers transitioning to organic production, the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, the Organic Research and Extension Initiative, and a review of the Federal Crop Insurance Program as it relates to organic producers.

OTA looks forward to a productive working relationship with you, your office and across USDA.

Sincerely,

Christine Bushway
Executive Director
Organic Trade Association

Julia Sabin
OTA Board President
Smucker Quality Beverage, Inc.

Click here to read the original letter to Tom Vilsack (PDF)

{ 0 comments }