FEBRUARY 2020 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC Leading a decade of growth in organics
Organic sector bids a fond farewell to long-time executive director Jen Gamble system that will be formally launched this spring. This user-friendly platform will increase efficiency throughout the certification process and modernize our processes. While taking care of the
By now, most of the
organic community has heard the news that Jen Gamble has made a personal and professional development
developing and enforcing their own standards. The Canadian Organic Standard came into effect in 2009 but the transition was still
Viewpoint by HEATHER STRETCH
with CARMEN WAKELING
decision to step down as executive director of the Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia. She will certainly bring a wealth of knowledge, passion and capacity to her next position, and the organic producers of BC wish her the very best. Jen has been with COABC since 2011, and during that time COABC and the whole organic sector has grown and developed tremendously. When she stepped into the
role it was a tumultuous time for organics. We were in the middle of a transition to the Canadian Organic Regime (COR) and the association, which serves as the umbrella group for the 10 certifying bodies in the province, faced a bumpy financial picture. Provincial government funding had been pulled and the new regime had new costs associated with it. This may seem like a small
change, but one with far- reaching impacts for a group that embraces a large number of commodities. BC’s organic sector began as a grassroots movement and moved through a phase of many small, regional organizations each
ongoing in 2011. New levels of bureaucracy and new accreditation requirements were not universally
embraced, and Jen navigated these challenging waters with poise and grace.
Big picture challenges When change happens,
organizations – agricultural or otherwise – can’t afford to sweat the small stuff. Big- picture challenges require clear thinking. As Jen continued to work on strengthening COABC’s footing, she was able to strategically approach all aspects of the organization and fine-tune its workings. She worked on the operations and functionality of the organization and began to develop strong relationships with partners external to the organic sector. This included funding partners and government relationships. The next big step in BC
organics was the transition to mandatory organic labelling. Originally announced in 2015, the new regulations came into place on September 1, 2018. BC became one of the first provinces in Canada to manage this. In large part due to Jen’s persistence, planning and diligent work, the word “organic” now has legal
protection in BC. Any product offered for sale in the province that’s labeled as organic must be certified with an accredited body. With improvements in the
sector’s day-to-day activities underway, the focus turned to preparing the organization for the future. Significant growth in the sector, both in terms of sales and the number of growers, called for a new strategic plan that would lay the foundation for the next chapter in the sector’s development. Jen led the charge, undertaking development in 2017 in advance of the 25th anniversary of COABC. The five-year plan, which runs 2018-2023, has set up COABC for short, medium, and long- term success and has created opportunities for a number of partnerships and projects now being realized. Among these initiatives are
the I Certify platform, an online organic certification
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day-to-day functioning of the organization and managing long term projects, Jen has also cultivated personal relationships, succession and leadership development. Jen recruited, supported, and helped me (Heather) and other members of the executive and board. When I attended my first
Ag Days at the legislature with Jen, I learned a lot about her. I already knew how highly regarded she was within the organic sector, but it was eye-opening to me to see how respected she is by
MLAs, public servants and members of across BC’s agricultural sectors. All organic producers in BC, indeed everyone who cares about the availability of organic products, owes Jen Gamble a debt of gratitude for the extraordinary work she has done to not only maintain the integrity but grow the profile and availability of organic products in our province. Organic products have come into their own, and Jen’s leadership has set an example of how adaptable and resourceful the farm sector can be as it faces the challenges of rapid growth and change.
Heather Stretch and Carmen
Wakeling are co-presidents of the Certified Organic Associations of BC.
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