CCOF-Certified Farmer and Former Staffer Appointed to National Organic Standards Board

Esta página aún no está disponible en Español.
Written by Jen Rojas on Monday, February 14, 2022

CCOF celebrates Javier Zamora’s and Allison Johnson’s appointments to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the federal advisory board that makes recommendations on organic materials and policy to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Javier Zamora, owner and operator of JSM Organics in Aromas, California, was appointed to a farmer seat. Javier brings a voice that has been missing from NOSB—that of an immigrant farmer who, through hard work and dedication, has built a thriving organic farming business and emerged as a leader within the community. Javier is vocal in his support for diversifying the organic movement. He is a mentor to young farmers and Spanish-speaking farmers throughout the state. He is a member of many advisory boards, has spoken on numerous farmer panels, and has participated in the Latino Farmer Conference in California since its inception. Javier is always looking for ways to further organic farmers and the laborers who make their farms succeed.

Allison Johnson is a staff attorney and sustainable food advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco, California, and was appointed to a public interest or consumer interest group seat on the NOSB. Allison was a handler certification specialist when she began working at CCOF in 2007 and then broadened the scope of her work to include organic policy. During her five-year tenure at CCOF, Allison gained firsthand knowledge of organic processing and labeling rules and a wide range of organic policy issues. Her dedication to sustainable and organic food systems led her to enroll in law school, where she continued to hone her knowledge of food systems and agricultural policy, a path she has followed to her current role with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Congratulations, Javier and Allison!