Jim Riddle

For more than 35 years, Jim Riddle has been an organic farmer, gardener, inspector, educator, policy analyst, author, speaker, and avid organic eater. Jim was founding president of the Winona Farmers Market Association and the International Organic Inspectors Association, (IOIA), and co-author of the International Organic Inspection Manual. Jim served as chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Organic Advisory Task Force and was instrumental in passage of Minnesota’s landmark organic certification cost-share program, which now is a Federal program that provides partial reimbursement for organic certification costs nationwide. Jim worked for the University of Minnesota as Organic Outreach Coordinator and as Organic Research Grants Coordinator for Ceres Trust. Jim and wife, Joyce Ford, co-owned Blue Fruit Farm, growing blueberries, black currants, elderberries, aronia berries, honeyberries, and more until 2019. Jim and Joyce were named the 2019 MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year and in 2013 received EcoFarm’s coveted Sustie award. In 2107, Jim received Beyond Pesticide’s Dragonfly Award for, “leading the nation in advancing organic integrity through policy and practice.”