Joe Dickson

Quality Standards & Organic Programs Coordinator, Whole Foods Market

As part of Whole Foods’ Market’s Quality Standards Team, Joe is responsible for developing and maintaining the company’s strong standards for natural food and supplement ingredients. Joe also coordinates the company’s policy work on agricultural issues, including organic agriculture and genetically engineered crops, and manages the company’s organic certification as the first national certified organic retailer. Joe first fell in love with organic and sustainable agriculture while a student in New York State’s Hudson Valley; he holds a degree in cognitive neuroscience from Vassar College.

Founded in 1980 in Austin, TX, Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading retailer of natural and organic foods. In fiscal year 2006, the company had sales of $5.6 billion and currently has more than 190 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”(TM) captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement.

Project Exhibits with UNFI at Expo East

The Natural Products Expo East, held this past October in Boston, afforded some very productive outreach for the Project, thanks largely to the generosity of UNFI, who gave the Project a corner of their centrally-located booth to exhibit from and hold meetings at.