Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force has 13 new members

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson named the 13 new members of the state's Organic Advisory Task Force in a recent news release.

The task force advises the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota on policies concerning organic production and how to more effectively provide outreach, education, research, and technical assistance.

“The organic sector is vital to Minnesota’s agricultural economy and we need strong involvement from the organic community to make sure that sector continues to thrive” Frederickson said. “I look forward to collaborating with this board to continue to improve organic agriculture for all Minnesotans.”

According to the latest data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota ranks seventh in the nation with 659 organic operations in the state in 2015.

The task force members will serve three-year terms and represent organic consumers, farmers, retailers, certifiers, and educators. The new members are Rory Beyer, St. Charles; Lynn Brakke, Moorhead; Susan Burns, Minneapolis; Cherry Flowers, St. Paul; Jenny Heck, Minneapolis; Bradley Heins, Morris; Michelle Menken, St. Paul; Lindsay Mutegi, St. Paul; Carolyn Olson, Cottonwood; Jim Riddle, chair, Winona; M. Scott Wells, St. Paul; Barbara Wolff, Burnsville; and Andrew Wright, Minneapolis.