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Jennifer Moffitt

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Jennifer Moffitt
USDA Official Portrait of Under Secretary Moffitt
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
In office
August 13, 2021 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
LeaderTom Vilsack
Preceded byGreg Ibach
Succeeded byDudley Hoskins (nominee)
Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
In office
February 2018 – August 2021
GovernorJerry Brown
Gavin Newsom
Deputy Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
In office
January 2015 – February 2018
Appointed byJerry Brown
Personal details
Born1980
EducationBrown University

Jennifer Lester Moffitt (born 1980) is an American organic farmer and government official from California who served as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Biden administration; she was the first woman to hold this position. Moffitt previously served as the Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. She is currently a Senior Fellow at American Farmland Trust.

Early life and education

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Moffitt grew up on her family's organic farm in Winters, California. She was active in 4-H and the National FFA Organization, raising market lambs and earning a State FFA degree. Moffitt graduated from Brown University and is also an alumna of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation.

Career

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After college, Moffitt worked at American Farmland Trust.[1] From 2005-2015, she worked for her family's organic walnut farm and processing operation, leading sales and marketing efforts and serving as the farm's Managing Director. During her tenure, the farm was recognized with the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for their sustainable farming and management practices.[2]

In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Moffitt to serve on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.[3] In 2015, Governor Brown appointed Moffitt to serve as Deputy Secretary for Policy at the California Department of Food and Agriculture; she was promoted to Undersecretary in 2018.[4] In 2019, she was reappointed to serve as Undersecretary by Governor Gavin Newsom.[5]

On April 27, 2021, President Joe Biden announced Moffitt to be his nominee to be the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.[1] Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross endorsed the nomination.[6] On April 28, 2021, Moffit's nomination was sent to the Senate.[7] On July 26, 2021, her nomination was reported favorably out of committee.[8][9] On August 11, 2021, Moffitt was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.[9][10]

U.S. Department of Agriculture

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As Under Secretary, Moffitt provided leadership for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), working to build a more reliable, resilient, and equitable food system by strengthening agricultural markets and ensuring the health and welfare of animals and plants. During her tenure, she oversaw the implementation of USDA’s Food Systems Transformation Initiative, Competition Initiative, and Organic Transition Initiative.[11] In 2023, Moffitt led the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Food Systems Summit in Rome[12] and represented USDA at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit and the African Food Systems Summit.[13] In 2024, Moffit led the U.S. delegation to the World Organisation for Animal Health General Assembly to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary.

In recognition of her work at USDA, Moffitt received the 2024 Organic Champion Award from the Organic Trade Association and a 2024 IDFA Leadership Award from the International Dairy Foods Association. She was also inducted into the Winters Joint Unified School District Hall of Fame.[14]

American Farmland Trust

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In 2025, it was announced that Moffitt would be returning to American Farmland Trust as a Senior Fellow where her work will focus on enhancing the vitality of rural America by supporting farmers and ranchers in building diverse, profitable, and resilient farming operations now and into the future.[11]

Personal life

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Moffitt is the daughter of Russ and Kathy Lester and has four sisters. She is married to Gregory Moffitt, an educator and former school principal. Moffitt currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband and their teenage daughter.

References

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  1. ^ a b "President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations", White House, April 27, 2021 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "2018 GEELA – Recipients | CalEPA". calepa.ca.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  3. ^ "Governor Brown Announces Appointments | Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr". archive.gov.ca.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  4. ^ "Governor Brown Announces Appointments | Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr". archive.gov.ca.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  5. ^ "CDFA - Public Affairs - Executive Staff Biographies". www.cdfa.ca.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "California organic farmer nominated as USDA undersecretary". Farm Progress. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, April 28, 2021
  8. ^ "Committee clears Biden nominee Moffitt for vote in Senate". Successful Farming. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  9. ^ a b "PN481 - Nomination of Jennifer Lester Moffitt for Department of Agriculture, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  10. ^ "Full Senate approves USDA Undersecretary Moffitt". Farm Progress. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  11. ^ a b Brittany (2025-01-21). "Former USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt Returns to American Farmland Trust as Senior Fellow". Morning Ag Clips. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  12. ^ "Under Secretary Moffitt Leads U.S. Delegation to UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking in Rome | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service". www.fas.usda.gov. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  13. ^ "At the Africa Food Systems Forum, USDA Announces Major Partnerships in Africa | Home". www.usda.gov. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  14. ^ Apilado, Crystal (2023-04-20). "Winters JUSD announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023". Winters Express. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
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