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Copyright 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:11 PM

By Jane Black President Obama's choice of organics expert Kathleen Merrigan for the No. 2 spot at the Agriculture Department was immediately welcomed by sustainable agriculture and food policy advocates who have been lobbying hard for progressive appointments at an agency that has historically has emphasized programs that support commercial farming. "We think it's great news," said David Murphy, director of Food Democracy Now, an Iowa-based nonprofit that has petitioned for the appointment of a dozen "sustainability oriented" candidates for high-level USDA positions. "Merrigan has a fantastic background in supporting sustainable agriculture. She is the type of person we really believe should be leading change for 21st century agriculture." Merrigan, an assistant professor at Tufts University, helped draft the 1990 legislation that recognized organic farming while a staffer for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt). She then went on to head the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which drafted rules for organic labeling