AHPA awards individuals, companies for positive contributions to herbal products industry

Related tags Herbalism

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has announced the winners of its seventh annual AHPA Awards with Mitchell Coven (Vitality Works), Roy Upton (American Herbal Pharmacopoeia) and Tom's of Maine honored.

"AHPA honors these leaders for their significant contributions to the herbal products industry," said Michael McGuffin, AHPA president.

"Each honoree is committed to excellence and understands that continual industry growth depends on the individual actions and decisions made by members of our business and education communities."

Herbal Hero

Mitchell Coven, founder, CEO, and president of Vitality Works, has been named the winner of the AHPA Herbal Hero Award, which recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to AHPA committees or initiatives. Coven has served on the AHPA board of trustees for the past 12 years.

Industry Leader

The AHPA Herbal Industry Leader Award goes to Tom's of Maine, located in Kennebunk, Maine. This award recognizes companies that set an example of outstanding business practices or organizations that work to move the industry forward above and beyond normal business practices.

Herbal Insight Award

Roy Upton, executive director and editor of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, is this year’s winner of the AHPA Herbal Insight Award. The award recognizes individuals or non-commercial organizations that have a significant impact on furthering knowledge and understanding of botanicals and their uses.

Upton is a member of AHPA's Standards committee, and sits on the advisory committees for the American Botanical Council, AOAC International, and NSF International.

Special Award

The 2012 Special Award: The AHPA Visionary Award goes to the late Michael Roland Shaw Moore for his approach to botanical medicines, the development of a contemporary approach to herbal practice, and his broad impact on herbalists and the practice of modern U.S. herbalism during the revival of American Herbalism in the second half of the 20th century.

The 2012 AHPA Awards will be presented during the association's 30th Anniversary Member Meeting on March 8 at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif.