Oregon Tilth’s Interim CEO recognized for leadership, vision, and advancing the future of organic certification

Dr. Freeman was first appointed to the OTA Board in 2024, and this year, through OTA’s democratic election process, its members voted to re-elect him to continue his service as a Board member. The OTA Board consists of 15 leaders who represent the diversity of the organic sector. From farmers and certifiers to brands, distributors, and retailers, each serving to guide the advancement of organic agriculture and products across North America.

Reflecting on his election, Dr. Freeman shared:

“I believe organic is more than a method, it’s a movement rooted in equity, resilience, and community. As a leader, my commitment is to help amplify diverse voices, strengthen collaboration, and ensure organic remains a transformative force for farmers, families, and future generations.”

Leadership at Organic Week 2025

This announcement follows Dr. Freeman’s active leadership role at Organic Week 2025, hosted by OTA in Washington, D.C., where he joined peers on the panel “Regulatory Breakout: Behind the Seal: Pressures and Priorities from the Certifier Perspective.”

During the session, Dr. Freeman emphasized that certification extends beyond compliance, focusing on how to better equip clients for success.

“We really provide context, not just content. When clients understand the ‘why’ behind certification, they’re empowered to progress, not just stay in place.”

From the panel, several themes emerged that underscore Dr. Freeman’s leadership and vision for the future of organic certification:

• Investing in people – recognizing inspectors and certification staff as the frontline of organic integrity, while also mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
  
• Consistency in certification services – ensuring clients receive equitable and timely support through streamlined systems and shared best practices.
  
• Context over content – empowering farmers and handlers with the “why” behind certification requirements, not just the paperwork.
  
• Data-driven innovation – leveraging dashboards and tools like Power BI and Salesforce to strengthen decision-making, transparency, and service delivery.
  
• Collaboration across the sector – building synergy among departments and certifiers to create common standards that uphold organic integrity.

“This is not Oregon Tilth specific. We have to unite as an industry to find foundational commonalities for serving clients. Alignment doesn’t mean agreement, but consistency builds trust.”

He also reminded participants that people are at the heart of every system:

“We can talk about systems all day, but none of this works without people. Our inspectors, staff, and clients are at the heart of organic integrity. Our role is to support, train, and inspire them to lead.”

Oregon Tilth celebrates Dr. Freeman’s election and his continued thought leadership in shaping the future of organic.

About Dr. Leonard Freeman, Jr. 

As Interim CEO of Oregon Tilth, Dr. Freeman brings a wealth of experience in leadership, innovation, and community empowerment. His career spans affordable housing, community engagement, and education, with a consistent focus on equity and creating impactful partnerships. He has been recognized nationally for his work in advancing innovative solutions, building bridges across sectors, and inspiring change. His insights on diversity, leadership, and innovation have been featured in Forbes and more than a dozen other publications.

In addition to his leadership at Oregon Tilth, Dr. Freeman’s extensive background includes transformative roles with the Atlantic Housing Foundation, Equal Opportunity Schools, the NFL, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas. He currently serves on several boards, including The National Society of Black Sports Professionals, The LiveWell Foundation, and the Darren Clark Jr. Memorial Foundation.

About Oregon Tilth

Oregon Tilth is a leading certifier, educator, and advocate for a brighter food future. With over 50 years of experience, we’re a team of regulatory experts, biologists, farmers, technical specialists, horticulturalists, communicators, administrators, inspectors, advocates, certification specialists, and educators working together to make our food and agriculture system socially equitable and biologically sound. We’re honored to serve hardworking farmers, ranchers, handlers, and operators who empower consumers.

For more information, visit tilth.org.

About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America, representing the organic trade with a unifying voice from farm to marketplace. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic, working together with its members to advance practices that benefit farmers, communities, and the environment.

For more information, visit ota.com.