Northern Alberta Rep

Soames Smith runs a grassfed cattle operation in the Central Peace area close to Dunvegan Valley. Originally from a small farm in SE England Soames immigrated to Canada with his family in the late 1970s. He helped his family build a small dairy in Central Alberta, then after a short bout in the oil patch, decided to head back to the farm and built a modern 60 cow dairy producing low cost milk from grass. In 1995 they sold the dairy and moved to the Central Peace where they presently farm. After several challenging years they decided to switch to simpler and low carbon footprint production which worked with nature. They now calve in May, bale graze in winter, and in 2008 raised their first crop of 100% organic grass fed beef. Soames has been on the Organic Alberta board for two years and is looking forward to the opportunity to shape the industry and represent Peace farmers at the provincial level for another two year term.

Central Region Representative

Consumer Representative

Frank Sarro has worked with Community Natural Foods in Calgary since 1998. He is currently the Purchasing Manger for the company. Frank was on the board of directors with the Sustainable Agriculture Association which provided organic certification services in Alberta in the early years. Frank then became involved in the forming of the Alberta Organic Association which eventually evolved into the Going Organic Network and then into Organic Alberta. After a hiatus of a number of years, Frank is now back on the Organic Alberta board of directors. He has also participated in various national meetings on organics. Frank received the Organics Achievement Award given out by the Canadian Health Food Association at their Western Conference in 2009. Frank spends time each year on farm visits and continues to works directly with producers and industry from near and far to facilitate goods from field to market.

Executive Director

Becky Lipton has been working with the organic industry in Alberta since 2008. Originally brought on to coordinate the Alberta Organic Harmonization Project, she is now the Interim Executive Director of Organic Alberta. Becky brings her experience in organizing, strategic planning, facilitation, and program coordination to the position. She also brings her expertise from past work including from her Masters’ degree (women and agriculture), her work with the New Rural Economy research group, and her experience on farms, with farmers’ markets, and agriculture education. Becky is a high energy person who is full of determination and passion for a form of agriculture that she believes has the potential to transform and cultivate a healthy food system – a system that is sustainable for our farmers, our eaters, and everyone in between.

Vice President and Central Alberta Representative

Ward Middleton and his wife Jo-Anne operate as Midmore Farms, managing 750 acres just North of Morinville, Alberta. After purchasing the family farm from Ward's father in 1994, they became certified organic in 1999 as part of a business strategy to make agriculture the primary source of income for their family.  Ward worked off the farm in oilfield and forestry until 2009.  Regular crops at Midmore Farms include wheat, barley, rye, peas, canola, flax and sweet clover seed, with some less traditional crops such as borage, and milk thistle seed.  Midmore Farms is also a member of the Woodlot Association of Alberta and their farm also includes a 1/4 section custom grazing silvipasture, and an 80 acre managed woodlot.

 

Member-At-Large

Dan Vriend’s family back in 1981 was one of the very first farms to become certified organic in Canada. A decade or so later, Dan struck out on his own. Beginning with a seed operation, he and his wife Kristine now run a market garden just outside of Leduc.  Dan is committed to organics and has sat on numerous boards over the years.

 

Treasurer and Member-At-Large

Danny and his wife Miranda own and operate The Organic Box in Edmonton, a local organic food home delivery service.  Danny has had a long-time passion for real food and is delighted that so many families in the Capital Region have decided to make a long term commitment to eating sustainable, local organic food and he is passionate about changing our food economy one family at a time. Danny was born and raised in Calgary, and earned his BSc at the University of Calgary. He spent 10 years living and working in Ontario, California and the United Kingdom.  He has a business degree from the University of Oxford and firmly believes in grassroots-level business development for the Alberta organics industry.  Organic Alberta is a key part of promoting and developing this market.  Our early success with The Organic Box has proven that the sky is the limit for Alberta organic products and I would love to bring my background in business and product development to bear for Organic Alberta.

Alberta Rep at the Federal Level

Terry was born on a farm Northwest of Westlock, which he and his wife Roseanna, now farm. They built a house across the road from his father in 1986 and have lived there ever since. They began their transition to organic production in 1994 and in 1997 were certified by OCIA chapter one. At present they farm 1200 acres of land, calve 140 cows, and sell organic oats whenever the cattle have ample feed. Terry and his family feel strongly about the importance of organic agriculture. He believes in putting industry first and that producers, processors and retailers face challenges that should be approached with common sense solutions. Terry is presently the president of the Alberta Organic Producers Association, where he has gained insights into the concerns of both producers and processors. He believes in the maintenance of the integrity of organic products and services and building a strong organic industry that attracts new producers, processors, and retailers to become certified.