Summer/Fall 2025: Message From the President
Message from PCO's Board President
Written by Joe Dickson- 2025 Board President
As the leaves are beginning to turn and the harvest season is well underway, I’ve been reflecting on the cycles of growth and renewal that are at the heart of all life, agricultural systems, and the work we do at PCO. This fall, we’re experiencing our own transformation — one that I believe will strengthen our service to you, our clients and community, for years to come.
Over the past several months, our Certification team has been undergoing an important and thoughtful evolution. We’ve been looking closely at how we can make the certification process smoother, faster, and more responsive, while never compromising the integrity and rigor that organic demands. This has meant rethinking roles, refining workflows, and sharpening our focus on what matters most: your experience as a PCO client, and the quality of the service you receive. These changes are already helping us operate with greater efficiency, deeper expertise, and a renewed commitment to making the certification process a supportive and transparent partnership.
We’re also preparing for another milestone: the arrival of our new Executive Director, Chris Solt, at the end of September. Chris brings a wealth of experience in fair trade, cooperative business, and sustainable agriculture, along with a thoughtful and engaging leadership style that fits PCO’s values beautifully. I’m excited for you to get to know him, and I’m confident he will lead the PCO team and community into a new chapter of growth, innovation, and member service.
At the same time, I’m mindful that these organizational changes are happening within a larger moment for organic. Our movement continues to grow in both scale and complexity, and yet its core principles remain unchanged: care for the land, care for the people who steward it, and care for the communities nourished by it. In a world that often prioritizes speed and short-term gains, organic stands as a testament to patience, integrity, and the belief that how we grow and produce food matters.
As my time as Interim Executive Director draws to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you — our farmers, processors, and partners — for choosing PCO as your certifier. Your trust in us is not something we take lightly. Every certificate we issue, every question we answer, and every audit we support is part of your story, and we’re honored to walk alongside you in it.
Here’s to a season of growth, change, and shared commitment to the values that brought us each to the organic movement!
Joe Dickson is a leader in organic, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture with over 25 years of experience. As the Founder and Principal of Lot 49 Advisors, he collaborates with retailers, NGOs, brands, and producers to advance sustainability and meaningful certifications in food and farming. With a background that includes two decades at Whole Foods Market and board service for multiple agricultural organizations, Joe now lives in Southern Vermont after years of ranching in Texas. Joe has served on PCO's board of directors since 2023.