Kathleen Merrigan, Director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at Tufts, has been appointed Deputy USDA Secretary.Pop the champagne, kids, because this one’s a win for the organic movement and sustainable farming.
There’s lots to love in Kathleen Merrigan’s resume (pdf), but let’s single out that she (a) helped write the organic standards for the USDA’s National Organic Program, (b) ran the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for Clinton, the department that would eventually oversee organic standards, and (c) served on the National Organic Standards Board back when that advising body executed real oversight on the development of organic standards,
All this seems to point to a bureaucrat who will be friendly to the organic wing of the organic party — let’s call it the organic movement. The organic movement understands that standards and integrity drive the organic consumer, that, without them, the organic label is just that — words on a sticker. The organic movement stands in contrast to Big Organics which is willing to sacrifice standards for growth — gotta wonder how Kraft, Dean Foods, and other Big O playas will react to this appointment.
It’s really hard to overstate what a win it is to have a writer of organic standards in this prominent position within the USDA. Not only could she reform the USDA, Merrigan is in a position to reform the organic industry, as well. Bravo, el presidente!
