For Immediate Release:
October 7, 2008 |
Contact: |
Bob Scowcroft:
831-426-6606 x 102 |
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Ted Quaday:
831-426-6606 x 111 |
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Grows Communications Capacity,
Hires Ted Quaday to Head New Department
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – In a move to enhance its public outreach, the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has hired Ted Quaday to lead its expanding communications effort. For the past ten years, Quaday has served as program director at Farm Aid, the Willie Nelson concert series to benefit family farmers.
The new position marks a major communications advance for OFRF. Enthusiasm for organic farming continues to grow among family farmers and consumers. Quaday’s addition to the staff will enable OFRF to intensify its public support for these crucial advances in organic food production and consumption.
“The time is right to build on our momentum. We are extremely pleased to have such a nationally recognized and experienced leader joining the OFRF staff,” said Bob Scowcroft, OFRF executive director.
“Through our research program, OFRF has provided more than $2 million in grants to enhance organic research. Hiring a communications director meets our internal goal of upgrading our communications services, making it possible to provide more reliable information to more farmers more often,” said Steve Ela, OFRF president.
Quaday’s arrival at OFRF coincides with the conclusion of an internal strategic planning effort. That work reaffirmed the organization’s deep commitments to farmer driven research into organic production methods, farmer education on policy issues as well as policy analysis and advocacy. The planning process also pointed the organization toward the need to speak broadly about the positive social and environmental benefits of organic farming.
“Organic farming practices hold tremendous promise for all those who care about their own health, the health of the land and the health of the environment. I’m thrilled to be a part of the OFRF team. It’s a unique organization with a clear mission to advance organic agriculture through research, education and advocacy. Success in these efforts will be good for all of us,” said Quaday.
Bringing more farmer voices into the policy making process is another goal that will be enhanced through a focused communications plan that helps build OFRF’s Organic Farmers Action Network.
“We need to inform farmers about the policy process as well as specifics on the issues. Then we aid them in telling their organic story to policy makers and the public. Communications planning and implementation are essential to building a successful network of organic family farmer advocates,” said Mark Lipson, OFRF policy director.
In addition to his work at Farm Aid, Quaday is a former television news reporter and anchor. A native North Dakotan, Quaday served as executive director of the North Dakota Democratic Party in the early 1990s. He is a journalism graduate of the University of North Dakota and holds a masters degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He began work at OFRF on October 1, 2008.
Funds to build OFRF’s communications program are provided by grants from the True North Foundation and the Barkley Fund of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Additional support is provided through the generous contributions of OFRF’s individual and corporate donors.
About the Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation was founded in 1990 to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF sponsors organic farming research and education projects, disseminates the results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and educates the public and policymakers about organic farming issues. The majority of OFRF’s board members are working organic farmers.
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