From Farm to Shelf: Strengthening Organic Retail Through Merchandising, Education & Integrity | Barley Room

Organic sales continue to grow, and retailers play a critical role in building consumer trust and strengthening local food systems. Learn strategies to enhance organic merchandising, understand certification and labeling requirements, strengthen relationships with growers, and communicate the value of organic with confidence. Participants will leave with actionable tools to grow organic sales while supporting a resilient, transparent, and values-driven marketplace.

Mallorie Cochrane | Executive Director | Oregon Organic Coalition

Mallory Cochrane is the Executive Director of the Oregon Organic Coalition. With more than 15 years of experience in local and regional food systems, her work has strengthened farm economies, expanded access to fresh, local food, and elevated the visibility of organic producers across Oregon.

 

Mike Dill | Director of Advocacy & Sustainability | Organically Grown Company

Mike Dill leads advocacy, sustainability and stakeholder engagement for Organically Grown Company, the Northwest’s largest distributor of organic produce. He is the lead coordinator for the Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition, representing organic produce wholesalers and specialty crop growers to the National Organic Program, National Organic Standards Board and Legislators. Mike is also Vice-Chair of the Organic Trade Association’s Produce Sector Council and holds seats on the boards of the Oregon Organic Coalition, Washington’s Coalition for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture and the Organic Farming Research Foundation. In 2024, Mike was appointed by Secretary Tom Vilsack to the USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee and in 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek appointed Mike to the Oregon Board of Agriculture.

Mike’s eighteen years of experience in the organic trade include nine years managing food safety, compliance and policy and four years managing stakeholder engagement, sustainability and advocacy for OGC, along with five years working as an organic inspector, Fair Trade inspector and certification officer for Oregon Tilth. Mike received a degree in Food Science and Technology with minors in Horticulture and Chemistry from Oregon State University.

Gwendolyn Wyard | Founder | Strengthening Organic Systems 

Gwendolyn Wyard has called the organic sector her home for over 30 years. She is a Founding Partner of Strengthening Organic Systems (SOS), an advisory firm dedicated to organic supply chain integrity and fraud prevention. Prior to SOS, Gwendolyn served for more than a dozen years as the Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) where she worked on the development of policy strategy through regulatory engagement in the interest of OTA’s mission and its members. In her early career, Wyard was an organic inspector and served as Oregon Tilth’s Technical Specialist in organic policy and technical review of materials for use in organic products. Gwendolyn smiles large with an advanced degree in Fermentation Science and a minor in Chemistry. She served on the OMRI Board of Directors for 12 years and was the North American representative on the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Advisory Board. Wyard currently serves on the Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) Board of Directors. Fun involves music, costumes, gardening, biking, and coastal adventures.