What is COPAC?
The California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Secretary on issues related to organic standards and enforcement, and on support for organic agriculture in California through education, outreach, technical assistance, and other industry activities. Appointed by the Secretary, committee members represent organic stakeholders, including farmers, processors, retailers, consumers, and accredited certifying agencies.
COPAC Member Bios
Amanda Felder is the Organic Integrity and Environmental Compliance Manager at Taylor Farms in Salinas, California, where she oversees organic compliance across a wide network of farming, food processing, and manufacturing operations. She has worked in the organic industry for over 14 years and is a strong advocate for organic standards and integrity. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay. She has been a Processor Representative on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee since 2021 and currently serves on the National Organic Standards Board as a Handler/Processor Representative.
Lena Brook is Deputy Director at Fullwell, a Bay Area-based policy advocacy organization where she leads campaigns to expand values-aligned food procurement at public institutions and strengthen the food safety net. Prior to joining Fullwell, Ms. Brook was Director of Food Campaigns at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she developed and led initiatives that supported organic and other climate-friendly agricultural systems, reduced the use of harmful agricultural chemicals to protect public health and ecosystems, and expanded healthy food access. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at Health Care Without Harm and Clean Water Action. Lena serves on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation Sustainable Pest Management Advisory Committee as well as the Department of Food and Agriculture Farm-to-School Evaluation Advisory Committee. She holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies from the Yale School of the Environment and a BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley.
Jeffrey Chean has been in specialty coffee since 1994 when he broke his mother’s heart and dropped out of law school to follow his coffee passion. Jeff is Groundwork Coffee’s “Chief Coffee Guy” and co-founder. Groundwork is a certified organic and Regenerative Organic® coffee roasting company with roasteries and cafes in Los Angeles, California, and Portland, Oregon. Groundwork was one of the first certified organic coffee roasters in California and the first roaster anywhere to be certified with the Regenerative Organic Alliance. Groundwork brought the first container of Regenerative Organic Certified coffee into the US. While Jeff oversees the sourcing, purchasing, quality, and roasting of all of Groundwork’s green coffee (2,000,000 lb.+ per year and growing), his main passions revolve around being a fierce advocate for coffee farms to transition to certified organic status and regenerative agricultural practices. Building on relationships developed over three decades in coffee, Jeff develops programs that focus on improving the lives of coffee communities while increasing the supply chain of specialty grade certified organic and regenerative organic coffees. Providing a stable purchasing partner for growers and their coffee is a core tenant of his and Groundwork. Jeff is a natural storyteller who wants to drive home the connection between the food and drink people consume with the stories, lives, and struggles of those communities who make that consumption possible. Jeff is a sitting member of the California Organic Product Advisory Committee. Amongst the first people in the world to be certified as a Q Grader, Jeff is a subject matter expert on Sensory Evaluation and Coffee Roasting, a Hall of Fame Int’l Judge with the Cup of Excellence, and loves writing about himself in the third person. Jeff is definitely a fun guy to travel with at Origin. Really.
Sustainable agriculture has always been an interest and passion, and for the last 7 years Erin Raser has worked with Far West Fungi, supporting the organization in advocacy, technical consulting and building relationships with exotic growers throughout the world. Advocacy work has included drafting legislation to support domestic exotic mushroom suppliers and promoting domestic supply, importing machinery and automation to bring the US producers up to global standards, seeking out solutions for plastic waste and sustainability options, and building meaningful relationships along the way. Erin also supports other farms with food safety and organic compliance within the field and stays up to date on the latest USDA standards and evolving industry trends.
Erin has worked as an international specialist throughout the America's and the Caribbean in climate change, water management, and strategic planning, and holds two Masters degrees, in Sustainable Development and International Affairs, with a focus on agricultural policy.
Upcoming COPAC Meetings/Events
California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) Meeting
- January 22, 2026
