Patti Bursten Deutsch - Stanley Edwards - Rick Martinez - Krista Wanser
Rick has been a prominent figure in the organic certification field since the early 80’s, and was active in crafting the original organic regulations in the 1990s that govern the industry today.
Fluent in Spanish and English, Rick brings more than 30 years of experience providing organic inspection, consulting and training services to countless farms, processing facilities, governmental and non-governmental entities as well as US and international certification agencies in over 30 countries around the world. He has lead and taught numerous organic inspector trainings in the US, Latin America and Asia. Rick also served two terms as Board President of the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) in the 1990s.
Combining his extensive farming background with a degree in engineering from the University of South Florida, and years of experience in complex food processing systems in the US and multiple countries, Rick offers clients an expert understanding of organic certification regulations and best practices throughout the food supply chain.
For more than 25 years, Rick has been an organic farmer in Tampa, Florida. From 1979 to 2000, Rick owned and operated a successful sprouting and specialty greens business. To increase awareness and availability organic food locally, Rick founded Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in 1995. As the CEO, he has led the growth of the nonprofit community-supported farm from its initial 10 members to more than 400 members today, with multiple farm sites, educational initiatives, and respected corporate and civic partners.
Rick’s dedication to organic food and agriculture runs deep. He writes, “I’m in this business because I’m dedicated to the health of future generations and our planet as a whole. It is extremely exciting and rewarding to watch the growth in the food sector and help promote the growth of a sustainable and environmentally-friendly food production system.
Rick Martinez, Senior Partner
