Once Upon a Farm forms advisory board as public benefit corporation

Once Upon a Farm (NYSE: OFRM) announced the formation of its inaugural Public Benefit Corporation Advisory Board, comprising six cross-sector leaders who will guide the company's mission and governance as it scales its organic children's food business.

The Berkeley, California-based company became a Public Benefit Corporation in 2021, a corporate structure that legally codifies commitments to stakeholders alongside shareholders. The advisory board will meet quarterly to review the company's progress against its public benefit commitments.

"As a PBC, our directors are tasked to consider impacts on stakeholder groups from our children and families, to farmers, farmworkers and suppliers, our communities, and the planet," said John Foraker, co-founder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm.

The advisory board includes Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association; Roma McCaig, former chief public affairs and impact officer at REI Co-op; Deb Eschmeyer, partner at Original Strategies and former executive director of Let's Move!; Kumar Chandran, policy director at ReFED; Ryan Pintado-Vertner, founder and CEO of Smoketown; and Jane Kuhn, head of sustainability and strategic sourcing at Once Upon a Farm.

The board will provide strategic guidance on balancing stakeholder interests while scaling the business, with expertise spanning food systems, sustainability, public health, policy, and brand leadership. Once Upon a Farm produces organic, non-GMO snacks and meals for children, with products containing no added sugar and free from artificial flavors and colors.

According to the company, it is among a small number of publicly traded Public Benefit Corporations. The corporate structure requires consideration of impacts on various stakeholder groups beyond traditional shareholder interests.

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