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 a food systems consultant based in San Francisco. Most recently, she was Director of Food Campaigns with the Food and Agriculture team at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she developed and led policy campaigns that supported climate-friendly agricultural systems like certified organic, reduced the use of harmful agricultural chemicals to protect public health and ecosystems, and expanded healthy food access. Her expertise in advocacy and communications has influenced decision-makers of all types, from elected officials to CEOs. Prior to joining NRDC, she was a communications consultant specializing in sustainable food and agriculture issues and co-directed Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Food in Health Care initiative in California. Lena holds a Master’s 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.
Philip LaRocca is the owner and winemaker of LaRocca Vineyards, a 200-acre certified-organic vineyard with the top wine production of 25,000 cases. Philip has received the 5 Master Organic Farmer Awards and was honored as the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) Organic Farmer of Year Leadership Award. His organic know-how and innovative skills in working with nature have been readily recognized by many in the wine grape industry. Philip has served as the organic grape grower representative for the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter advisory committee and the agricultural-representative member of the Board of Supervisors for the Butte County Library System long range planning committee.
Phillip is a member of the OTA's Farmers Advisory Committee and is a member of the California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC). He was also the organic agricultural representative for California under Governor Grey Davis. Currently, Philip serves as Chairman of the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) Board of Directors. Philip has a Bachelor of Arts from California State University in San Jose and a master's degree from California State University, Chico.
Upcoming COPAC Meetings/Events
California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) Meeting
- January 18, 2024
