A Letter from Georgia Organics President & CEO Alice Rolls — The Dust

The benefit of a protracted tenure is you get to witness true change. After I began in 2004, there have been solely seven farmers markets in Georgia, the Nationwide Natural Program was two years outdated, and “native meals” was not a part of our vernacular. Due to an unbelievable group of passionate farmers, advocates, and companions, the native meals motion has grown and flourished in transformative methods.  There at the moment are 150 farmers markets, 150 Licensed Natural farms in Georgia, and extra Licensed Naturally Grown farms than in every other state. Eighty-two p.c of Georgia households now buy natural meals regularly. Farm to highschool packages dot Georgia’s panorama, and there are inspiring efforts to justly help Black and Brown farmers and mitigate the impacts of local weather change. 

You may say I had beautiful timing once I took this job, and that may be true. However I’ve additionally had the distinctive privilege of main and dealing alongside visionary and dedicated colleagues at Georgia Organics, and past, who’ve made this modification occur.   

Positioning the group for the long run is a problem I take critically, and thus I’ve been quietly engaged on succession planning the final two years. I’m assured that this planning, together with our sturdy management crew, will permit our group to be steady in our mission, targets, and execution. Our Board of Administrators and a newly fashioned search committee will probably be centered within the coming months on hiring a brand new Govt Director someday later this yr. A job description has been posted on our web site and will probably be circulated via numerous shops. Through the upcoming transition, I will probably be right here to help the brand new Govt Director and our regional collective impression work in a President Emeritus position for a brief time period. Afterwards, I will probably be looking for new adventures in work and play. 

It isn’t straightforward stepping away from work that has been my coronary heart and soul for twenty years. I really like this group and what we do, notably our newer mission to put money into natural farmers for the well being of the land and our communities. Georgia Organics has deeply formed me and cemented a permanent respect for native and natural farmers who steward public and environmental well being. Irrespective of the place I am going, I’ll proceed to champion them. 

If you’re getting this letter, which means you may have been a valued ally, supporter, pal and/or mentor in my skilled and private journey. For that, I’m humbled and grateful for all that now we have achieved collectively through the previous 20 years. 

Heat regards, 

Alice Rolls 
President & CEO