USDA has announced five new appointments to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), and one of those appointments is especially important for Texas organic agriculture: Jed Murray of Texas.
For many people outside Texas, Jed may be known today as Director of Government Relations for the Texas International Produce Association. But for those of us who have worked in Texas organic agriculture, there is much more to the story.
Jed has actually been part of Texas organic agriculture. He has grown organic vegetables, packed and marketed them, worked with retailers, advocated for growers, and helped us explore how Texas-grown organic products could reach larger markets.
I have known Jed for many years, and he has consistently supported Texas organic growers and efforts to expand opportunities for organic agriculture. He brings to the NOSB practical experience with what it takes to make organic agriculture work from the field all the way to the consumer.
Why the National Organic Standards Board Matters
The NOSB is not simply another USDA advisory committee.
Congress established the 15-member board under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on organic standards and, particularly, on substances used in organic production and handling. USDA appointed Jed to one of the board’s Public Interest/Consumer Interest Group seats for a five-year term through January 2031.
The NOSB deals with issues that eventually become very practical decisions on organic farms and in organic businesses.
The board reviews substances petitioned for addition to or removal from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, conducts the five-year sunset review of materials already on that list, and develops recommendations concerning organic production, handling and policy. Since its establishment, the NOSB has made more than 600 recommendations to USDA.
For an organic farmer or handler, these decisions can determine whether a fertilizer, pesticide, livestock health product, sanitizer, processing aid or other material can be used—and sometimes the specific restrictions placed on its use. Changes to the National List ultimately occur through USDA rulemaking following NOSB recommendations.
In other words, discussions at the NOSB can eventually affect what happens in a Texas organic field, greenhouse, packing shed, dairy, feed mill or processing facility.
Jed Brings More Than an Interest in Organic Agriculture
USDA’s announcement notes that Jed has 20 years of agricultural experience, including 13 years in the vegetable industry. He currently serves as Director of Government Relations for the Texas International Produce Association and Managing Partner of 9 Kids Compost LLC. His involvement also includes the Texas Department of State Health Services Food Safety and Defense Task Force, Texas Vegetable Association and the Texas A&M Vegetable & Fruit Program.
Those credentials are impressive, but they don’t fully explain why his appointment should matter to Texas organic growers.
Jed was an owner and partner in Tenaza Organics in South Texas, where he was directly involved in commercial certified-organic vegetable production. Tenaza produced crops such as parsley, broccoli, beets, spinach, Swiss chard, kale and cabbage and supplied large retailers and restaurants throughout Texas, with some production moving into export markets.
That means Jed understands organic agriculture from the production side—not simply from meetings, policy discussions or reports.
He knows what it means to plant an organic crop, deal with weather and production risk, manage a highly perishable product, meet buyer expectations, maintain organic integrity and then find a market willing to pay for what was produced.
Organic Farming in the Real World
South Texas agriculture can also provide some hard lessons.
Jed and Tenaza experienced firsthand the devastating February 2021 freeze. A year later, he described how the farm had been doing well before suddenly losing essentially its crop during the freeze. I was there in the summer of 2021 and Jed’s crew was working overtime to plant more crops to make up the losses.
Experiences like that give a person a different understanding of agricultural policy.
Organic standards have to protect the integrity of the organic label, but they also have to function on real farms facing drought, freezes, hurricanes, insects, diseases, labor challenges, market changes and the thousand other things agriculture can throw at a producer.
I believe that practical agricultural perspective is particularly valuable on the NOSB.
He Has Already Helped Shape Texas Organic Agriculture
Jed’s involvement with Texas organics has extended well beyond his own farm.
When Texas A&M AgriLife began a project in 2022 to examine opportunities for expanding markets for Texas-grown organic produce, Jed was an important industry collaborator.
At the time, I described him as an avid organic grower, a member of the Texas Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Board, and an exemplary cooperator with AgriLife Extension. He also provided ideas about opportunities for exporting Texas organic produce.
The TDA Organic Agricultural Industry Advisory Board has an important mission of its own: helping the Commissioner of Agriculture assess, develop, promote and expand the Texas organic agricultural products industry.
So Jed’s new national role follows years of engagement with many of the same questions here in Texas: How do we protect organic integrity while also helping organic agriculture grow? How do we connect farmers with markets? How do regulations affect producers? And how do we maintain consumer confidence in the organic label?
Recognized for Leadership in the Produce Industry
Jed’s work has also been recognized beyond Texas organic circles.
In 2022, American Vegetable Grower selected Tenaza Organics as its Central Region Grower Achievement Award winner. The recognition highlighted not only the farm’s production but Jed’s advocacy for fresh produce, growers, agricultural education and Texas-grown products.
His produce-industry experience also gives him an understanding of the entire organic supply chain—from the farmer to the consumer.
Organic agriculture begins with production practices, but USDA Organic is ultimately a consumer-facing label operating within a federal regulatory system. Maintaining that label requires understanding farmers and handlers while never losing sight of the consumer trust on which the entire organic market depends.
Jed’s experience in production, marketing and public policy gives him insight into each part of that chain.
USDA is getting someone with national produce-industry experience. Those of us in Texas organic agriculture know it is also getting someone who has been in the organic field, worked with organic growers, helped market organic crops and supported the growth of our organic industry for many years.
I am very pleased to see Jed Murray take that experience to the National Organic Standards Board!
More Resources
USDA Announces Five New Members to the National Organic Standards Board
USDA’s announcement and biography of Jed Murray.
Read the USDA announcement
National Organic Standards Board
Background on NOSB membership, responsibilities, meetings and activities.
USDA National Organic Standards Board
NOSB Recommendations
More than 600 recommendations involving organic production practices and materials are available through USDA.
View NOSB recommendations
National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Learn how substances are evaluated and regulated for organic crop, livestock and handling operations.
USDA National List information
Helping Expand the Market for Texas-Grown Organic Produce
Texas A&M AgriLife’s 2022 look at expanding domestic and international opportunities for Texas organic produce, including Jed’s involvement.
Read the AgriLife Today article
Tenaza Organics – Grower Achievement Award Regional Winner
A look at Tenaza Organics, its crops, markets and Jed’s work promoting produce and Texas growers.
Read the Growing Produce article
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