Carter established a national reputation for his expertise and commitment to working with these farmers and ranchers to develop production and marketing systems that connected growers with customers. In 1995 Carter established the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center, which soon became a regional focal point for producers engaged in developing new cooperative marketing systems. Carter also helped forge a partnership in the 1990’s between a conventional farm organization and the Colorado Organic Producers’ Association.
In early 2001, Carter was appointed by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Later that year, Carter was elected as chair of the board, and held that position throughout the period in which the USDA National Organic Standards were formally implemented. Carter founded Crystal Springs Consulting, Inc. in 2001 as a resource to connect growers and buyers who are committed to sustainability and authenticity in our food system. Carter also cofounded Pet Promise, a natural pet food brand built upon the foundation of quality products with meat and poultry sourced from U.S. family farmers. Pet Promise launched in late 2004, and became the No. 1 brand in the natural channel by 2006. Carter has also served as executive director of the National Bison Association for the past eight years, and has played an instrumental role in building new consumer demand for high quality natural bison meat. During the past eight years Carter and Crystal Springs Consulting have assisted producers in establishing new marketing cooperatives, have guided companies in obtaining organic certification, and have worked with other companies to establish sound, audit-based protocols for verifying the claims they make to their customers.
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