Driving Integrity, Sustainability & Deep Trust in Food, Agriculture and Consumer Products

Lot 49 Advisors is a collective of senior experts helping food, supplement, retail, and consumer-products leaders build standards, certifications, and verification systems people can actually trust.

We design standards, develop and deploy certification programs, navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and translate technical and scientific complexity into frameworks organizations can act on.

Lot 49 is a collective of senior advisors working at the intersection of standards, certification, regulatory compliance, sourcing, sustainability, and consumer trust.

Drawing on decades of hands-on leadership inside retailers, certification bodies, NGOs, and agricultural operations, we help organizations build systems that hold up to real scrutiny — not just on paper, but in practice.

We're not a single advisor with support staff. We're a group of senior experts, each a recognized leader in their own domain, who assemble the right combination of expertise around each client's specific challenge. That means clients work directly with senior people throughout an engagement, gaining both deep specialization and the collective judgment needed to spot blind spots, weigh tradeoffs, and understand how a standards decision ripples through the wider business.

Our work is grounded in what actually works: real standards, real verification, real transparency. We help organizations launch new certification programs, strengthen existing frameworks, build sustainability strategies that withstand scrutiny, support farmers through certification and transition, and strengthen supply chains from inputs to finished goods.

Closing the gap between promise and practice.

A label is only as trustworthy as the system behind it. Consumers see a simple seal; behind it sits a constellation of criteria, documentation, audits, supply chain traceability, and enforcement — and integrity lives in those details. A standard that reads beautifully on paper but can't be verified in practice doesn't build trust. It erodes it.

We've sat on every side of the table: as retailers, regulators, certifiers, auditors, farmers, and brand advisors. That range of vantage points shapes how we work. We know what auditors can realistically verify, what farmers and small operators can realistically document, and where the gap between promise and practice tends to hide — and we design for that gap from day one.

We don't parachute in, deliver a report, and leave. We work as a load-bearing beam: an embedded advisor and fractional extension of our clients' leadership teams, collaborating directly with CEOs and with legal, risk, operations, sourcing, marketing, and purpose teams. Our recommendations are built to travel through an organization without losing their meaning: if a proposal gets forwarded straight to a CEO with no additional context, that leader should still understand the issue, why it matters, what we recommend, and what decision comes next.

We're also selective about the work we take on. We decline engagements built around claims that would mislead consumers rather than genuinely inform them, in favor of verification work that provides real value.

Core Capabilities

  • We design standards and verification programs, from retailer ingredient standards to full third-party certification programs, built to be clear, auditable, meaningful, and ready for the real world. It's one of our deepest specialties. Organic has been the foundation for this work, but it is not the ceiling: the same rigor now extends into new supplement standards, retail food safety, foodservice and restaurant certification, and ultra-processed food labeling.

  • We help organizations build credible sustainability strategies and communicate them clearly to the people who matter, bringing farmers, suppliers, certifiers, NGOs, and buyers to the same table.

  • We guide companies through complex certification landscapes with a steady hand — our team includes former certifiers, auditors, and standards developers who know exactly what reviewers look for.

  • We build quality and food safety systems that stand up to any audit and work for your team on a Tuesday afternoon, not just on paper.

  • We translate dense regulation — USDA organic, FDA labeling, FTC advertising guidelines, PFAS and packaging laws, SOE, and more — into clear, workable plans.

  • We help organizations strengthen supply chain transparency, integrity, and environmental performance from farm to finished product.

Work With Us

The Lot 49 Advisors Team

  • Joe Dickson

    Joe Dickson brings over 25 years of leadership at the intersection of organic agriculture, sustainability, and standards development. As Founder and Principal of Lot 49 Advisors, he helps retailers, NGOs, brands, and farms build credible systems for certification, compliance, and sustainability.

    Joe previously served as the Global Director of Quality Standards at Whole Foods Market, where he led the development and execution of regulatory compliance, product standards, and transparency initiatives across North America and the UK. He co-founded consumer education and rewards app Merryfield, served on the National Organic Standards Board, and contributes today as a Senior Associate at Wolf & Associates. Joe serves as a board member at Carnation Farms, and Board President at Pennsylvania Certified Organic.

    Based in Southern Vermont, Joe’s work spans organic imports, farm support programs, retailer standard-setting, sustainability strategies, and new certification program development. His grounding in agriculture runs deep — including a decade spent running a regenerative goat and chicken ranch in Texas.

  • Jaclyn Bowen

    Jaclyn Bowen is a leader in quality systems engineering, food safety, contaminant testing, and certification development. As the Executive Director of Clean Label Project, Jaclyn led the largest peer-reviewed study on heavy metals in baby food and has presented her research at the United Nations.

    Her prior work at NSF International included developing technical standards and certification programs for organic, halal, cGMP, and SQF systems. Today she also serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Radicle Science, bringing scientific rigor to consumer health products.

    Jaclyn blends deep technical expertise with on-farm experience at her own organic and regenerative fruit operation. She holds degrees in environmental biology, public health, and quality engineering.

  • Benjamin Gray

    CONSULTANT

    Ben Gray, MS RD, is a passionate advocate for sustainable food systems and a leading figure in the upcycled food industry. As Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of the Upcycled Food Association, Ben spearheaded the creation of Upcycled CertifiedⓇ, the world’s first certification for upcycled ingredients and products. His leadership has helped grow the upcycled movement to over 275 companies in 20 countries, transforming the way we think about food waste and sustainability.

    In addition to his work with the Upcycled Food Association, Ben is a Strategic Advisor for Clean Label Project, where he helps shape strategies for better-for-you brands in the baby food sector. A Registered Dietitian with a background in academia, Ben has taught at top institutions and is deeply committed to building a global food system that nourishes both people and the planet. His work is driven by the belief that we can create a more sustainable future for all.

  • John Foster

    SENIOR CONSULTANT

    John Foster brings a wealth of knowledge in organic standards and certification systems, solidifying his reputation as an industry leader. Currently serving as COO at Wolf & Associates, John has led teams in implementing USDA-accredited organic programs, developing standards for organic crops, livestock, and overseeing industry-leading QA and food safety systems.

    With a career spanning senior roles with certification bodies and brands, John has been instrumental in developing independent standards for various certifications, including fair-trade and organic hydroponics. His expertise extends to supply chain compliance, where he ensured the highest levels of quality assurance at Earthbound Farms and White Wave Foods. Since 2018, John has focused on consulting, offering invaluable insights into organic regulatory compliance, sustainable product development, and green business strategies. His deep commitment to the highest standards is reflected in every aspect of his work.

  • John Livingston

    CO-FOUNDER & CFO

    John Livingston brings a wealth of experience as a financial leader, conservationist, and philosopher to his role as Co-Founder and CFO of Lot 49 Advisors. John is also the Director of Finance at Vermont Land Trust, where he oversees financial operations and contributes to the organization’s mission of land conservation.

    A passionate fly fisherman, John was introduced to the sport during his time at the University of Texas. His love for fishing led him to work at the Austin Angler, a renowned fly shop in central Texas. His fishing adventures have taken him from the wilds of Patagonia to the rivers of Southern Vermont, where he now resides.

    With a deep commitment to the natural world, John seamlessly blends his expertise in finance with his passion for conservation, helping organizations make lasting, meaningful impacts.

  • Jody Peterson

    CONSULTANT

    Jody Peterson is a seasoned expert in food safety, with over two decades of hands-on experience in the industry. As an SQF Contract Auditor and Consultant with ASI Food Safety, Jody has worked with a diverse range of clients, from retail distribution centers to livestock processing operations. Her expertise spans multiple food safety frameworks, including SQF and GFSI, and she has played a pivotal role in ensuring compliance across the supply chain.

    Before her current role, Jody served as the Director of Food Safety at Colorado Mushroom Farm, where she was responsible for upholding rigorous SQF standards. Certified as both an SQF Auditor and Advanced Practitioner, Jody brings a meticulous approach to every project. When she’s not working, she can be found on her family farm in Alamosa, Colorado, where her passion for food safety and agriculture continues to grow. As a fifth-generation rancher, Jody’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards in food safety is evident in everything she does.

Select Clients

Our principals have supported mission-driven retailers, CPG brands, NGOs, and certification bodies in strengthening integrity, improving standards, and advancing sustainability across the food system.

Let’s Build Something

At Lot 49 Advisors, we partner with forward-thinking brands, retailers, NGOs, and agricultural producers to drive sustainable change. Whether you’re looking to develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy, ensure regulatory compliance, or improve your product's safety and quality, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Interested in collaborating? Let’s connect! Fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you to discuss how we can support your goals and bring your vision to life.

Together, we can create lasting impact and help your business thrive while doing good for the planet.