Dag Falck, Organic Program Manager for Nature’s Path Foods, has been named the new Board President of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA).
“I am looking forward to this opportunity to help lead our community at this time.” said Dag, adding: “COTA’s research shows our market has tripled to $3 billion a year, while exports continue to grow. We want to ensure our strict government-enforced organic standards continue to build consumer confidence here at home, while opening new opportunities in other markets.”
Dag is in the third year of his term with COTA, and brings decades of experience as an industry leader, organic inspector, and food manufacturer to COTA’s diverse membership.
The other officers elected by the COTA Board of Directors are: Ryan Benn of Alive Publishing Group (BC) as Vice President, Kelly Monaghan of Ash Street Organics (ON) as Secretary, and Mike Fata of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods (MB) as Treasurer.
Other members of the current board include Martin LeMoine of Fruits d’Or (QC), Lisa Mumm of Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds (SK), and Dwayne Smith of Grainworks, Inc. (AB). Newly elected to the board is Maureen Kirkpatrick of The Big Carrot (ON).
Both Dag Falck and Ryan Benn will also bring the Canadian perspective to the Organic Trade Association in Washington, D.C., as sitting members of the OTA Board of Directors.
“COTA is delighted to have these very committed and capable individuals serve on the Board,” said Executive Director Matthew Holmes. “The organic sector has always had a value-chain approach, and we’re stronger by having the perspective of farmers, processors, traders, retailers, inspectors, and consumers come together to guide COTA in the next phase of growth.”
The COTA staff and Board would also like to thank and recognize outgoing Board members Gunta Vitins (Vitins Consulting) and Ian Walker (Left Coast Naturals) for years of service and leadership. COTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members.
The Canada Organic Trade Association is the membership-based trade association for the organic sector in Canada, representing growers, handlers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, exporters, consultants, retailers and others in the organic value chain. COTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
For more information, contact Matthew Holmes at 613-482-1717.