FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local consumer advocate wins USDA appointment
PCC Natural Markets educator appointed to national board
Seattle, Wash. (January 18, 2001) — Goldie Caughlan, Nutrition Education Manager for PCC Natural Markets, has been appointed to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman announced Goldie's appointment, effective immediately, in a news release.
Caughlan received word about her appointment by telephone from Keith Jones, Program Manager of the National Organic Program. Jones offered congratulations and says he looks forward to working with Caughlan on the NOSB. The appointment follows a nomination and review process that began last summer.
The NOSB role
The NOSB is the link between consumers and regulatory standards on organic products. It assists in developing organic standards and advises the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on implementing the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The NOSB includes four organic farmers, one retailer, two organic handlers, three environmentalists, three consumers, one scientist and one certifying agent. Glickman appointed Caughlan as one of the newest members of the board.
Caughlan will serve as one of the consumer representatives for four years, until January 24, 2006. She says she's "truly honored and gratified" by the appointment and is eager to get to work with other board members. Other new appointees include George Siemon, the Chief Executive Officer of Organic Valley; Jim Riddle, a certifying agent from Minnesota.
Caughlan background
Caughlan has worked as a consumer advocate for more than 25 years. She was one of the earliest advocates of organically grown foods and developed the nutrition education program at PCC Natural Markets during her 17 years on staff.
PCC Natural Markets is a consumer-owned cooperative with 40,000 members in the Seattle area. PCC Natural Markets is the nation's largest natural foods cooperative retailer. Caughlan will continue working with PCC while commuting, as needed, to Washington D.C.
Caughlan served as a consumer representative on the Washington State Organic Advisory Board for seven years and served as a member of the Organic Trade Association during the mid-90s. She currently serves on the board of the Provender Alliance, a Northwest educational association that brings together natural and organic processors, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Caughlan has received numerous awards, including a national award for consumer education from the National Nutritional Foods Association in 1997 and the Pioneer Award from the Northwest Regional Nutritional Foods Association in 1999. Recently, she won a Goldie Standard award from Provender "for continually raising the standard of education and excellence in the Pacific Northwest natural foods industry and for instilling her heart of gold in all her endeavors."
Caughlan says some of the NOSB's most critical work will take place in the next five years. She sees her appointment as an opportunity to make a difference.
"For many years," says Caughlan, "members of the community have told me they want organics to be affordable and that they want farmers to make a living. They want organics to be something they can feel confident about bringing into their home. They want organic labels that are sensible and understandable. They've told me they want organic production to become the 'norm' in this country, not the exception. They want their children and grandchildren — all children — to have an organic future. They want to see the pesticides and other agricultural toxins disappear from the rivers and streams. I agree. I'm just so pleased to have the chance to be part of the National Organics Standards Board, especially as the nation's first organic standards are about (we expect) to take effect." As a consumer-owned cooperative retailer dedicated to nutritional awareness and environmental health, PCC Natural Markets is proud that Goldie Caughlan will be going to the nation's capital to represent consumer interests before USDA.
Caughlan is available for walk-and-talk interviews at one of PCC Natural Markets' seven stores or by telephone.
For USDA news release, click here