09. Mark Lipson, organic farming pioneer

Sustainable Agriculture Policy with Ron Kroese

Where did the Early Girl variety of tomato come from? Why is it suited for dry farming? Mark Lipson tells us in this week’s episode, and chats with Ron about organic agriculture, research, and public policies.

Mark is a 30-year pioneer and influential leader in the organic farming and food community in California and nationally. In 2016, he received the "Champion of Sustainable Agriculture Award" from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

He served a 4-year term as the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Policy Advisor in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, from 2010 to 2014. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), he led the department-wide Organic Working Group and co-led the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Task Force.

Since completing his term at USDA, Mark has been appointed as a research associate in Organic Agriculture Policy at the University of California at Santa Cruz, affiliated with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

Since 1983, he has been a member in Molino Creek Farm, a cooperative multi-family organic farming community near Davenport, California, and the original home of the famed, dry-farmed tomatoes.

He was the assistant executive director of California Certified Organic Farmers and the policy director at Organic Farming Research Foundation. Mark served as a Trustee of the Homeless Garden Project and the Organic Center.

Mark currently serves as Director of Policy and Regulatory Engagement at the Heartland Health Research Alliance. He is a staff affiliate for Organic Agriculture Policy at the University of California at Santa Cruz, affiliated with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

The interview was conducted on Dec. 15, 2016.

Links this episode:
National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)
Molino Creek Farm
California Certified Organic Farmers
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
Heartland Health Research Alliance

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