AHPA Awards

First presented in 2006, the annual AHPA Awards recognize individuals and organizations that make substantive, positive contributions to the herbal and natural products industries.
 

Congratulations to the 2026 AHPA Award winners!

AHPA Awards

  • Herbal Hero Award: Bill Chioffi

  • Herbal Industry Leadership Award: Oshala Farm

  • Herbal Insight Award: Trish Flaster

  • Herbal Diversity & Inclusion Award: Komal Baldwa

  • Environmental Impact Award: Herbalist & Alchemist

  • Herbal Champion Award: David Bunting

  • Herbal Pioneer Award: Ed Smith

  • Herbal Visionary Award: Drake Sadler

  • Service to Herbal Knowledge Award: Lloyd Library & Museum

Learn more about the 2026 AHPA Award winners >>>

2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award: Loren Israelsen

Loren Israelsen receiving the 2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award

Loren Israelsen (center) accepts the award from AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby and AHPA VP of Membership & Engagement Amber Bennett.

AHPA presented Loren Israelsen with the 2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award in a special presentation following the announcement of his upcoming retirement and the sunsetting of UNPA.

“Receiving an award that bears Michael McGuffin's name is deeply meaningful,” said Israelsen. “Michael was not only a respected colleague but a trusted friend whose integrity, deep knowledge and unwavering commitment to this industry inspired those who had the privilege of working alongside him. Throughout our careers, we shared the belief that meaningful progress comes through thoughtful leadership and a commitment to serving something greater than ourselves. I am honored to receive this recognition and grateful to AHPA for celebrating the values that Michael embodied throughout his remarkable life.”

Read the full award announcement >>>

Annual AHPA Award Categories

  • AHPA Herbal Hero Award: Recognizes an individual who makes an outstanding contribution to AHPA committees or initiatives.

  • AHPA Herbal Industry Leadership Award: Recognizes a company that sets an example of outstanding business practices or an organization that works to move the industry forward above and beyond normal business practices.

  • AHPA Herbal Insight Award: Recognizes individuals or non-commercial organizations that have a significant impact on furthering knowledge and understanding of botanicals and their uses.

  • AHPA Herbal Diversity and Inclusion Award: Recognizes excellence in commitment to the values of diversity, inclusion and equality benefiting both the herbal products industry and broader society.

  • AHPA Environmental Impact Award: Recognizes an individual, organization, or company that has implemented innovative sustainable or regenerative business practices that will continue to have a meaningful positive impact on the environment.

Michael McGuffin

Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award

Established in 2025 in honor of the late, longtime AHPA President Michael McGuffin (1951-2025), this special award recognizes individuals or organizations that embody Michael's spirit of “extraordinary service” to the herbal products community. The honor celebrates boundless dedication to future generations, to small businesses, and to the plants themselves.

This award, and other special awards, are conferred at the discretion of the AHPA Communications Committee and AHPA Board of Trustees.​

​Nomination & Selection Process

  • Only individuals employed by an AHPA member company may nominate individuals or companies for AHPA Awards.

  • AHPA Herbal Hero Award nominees must be employed by an AHPA member company

  • AHPA Herbal Industry Leadership nominees must be an AHPA member company.

  • AHPA Herbal Insight Award nominees do not need to be associated with an AHPA member company, but this award is limited to individuals or non-commercial organizations only.

After the nomination period closes, nominees will be reviewed by members of the AHPA Communications Committee, which represents a diverse group of industry stakeholders. The AHPA Communications Committee recommends recipients for each award category and presents these recommendations to the AHPA Board of Trustees for approval.

Past Honorees

AHPA Herbal Hero Award

  • Kristina Tucker, The Republic of Tea (2025)

  • Will Woodlee, Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker (2024)

  • Asa Waldstein, Supplement Advisory Group (2023)

  • Marc Allen, Herb Pharm (2022)

  • Rob Wildman, TYM Athletic Performance (2021)

  • Wilson Lau, Nuherbs (2020)

  • Steven Yeager, Mountain Rose Herbs (2019)

  • AHPA GACP/GMP Working Group (2018)

  • Suzanne Shelton, The Shelton Group (2017)

  • Steven Dentali, Herbalife (2016)

  • Dick Griffin, Grifcon Enterprises (2015)

  • Daniel Gagnon, Herbs, Etc. (2014)

  • Sidney Sudberg & Elan Sudberg, Alkemists Labs (2013)

  • Mitch Coven, Vitality Works (2012)

  • Edward Fletcher, Strategic Sourcing (2011)

  • Katie Huggins, Traditional Medicinals (2010)

  • Gordon Walker, Nature’s Way (2009)

  • Anthony Young, Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker (2008)

  • Beth Lambert, Herbalist & Alchemist (2007)

  • Staci Eisner, PlusPharma (2006)

AHPA Herbal Industry Leadership Award

  • Nammex (2025)

  • Pacific Botanicals (2024)

  • Natural Remedies (2023)

  • Celestial Seasonings (2022)

  • Herbalife Nutrition (2021)

  • Verdure Sciences (2020)

  • Oregon's Wild Harvest (2019)

  • Indena S.p.A. (2018)

  • BI Nutraceuticals (2017)

  • Aveda (2016)

  • Mountain Rose Herbs (2015)

  • Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (2014)

  • Trout Lake Farm, with special recognition of Martha Jane Johnson (2013)

  • Tom's of Maine (2012)

  • NOW Foods (2011)

  • Gaia Herbs (2010)

  • Sabinsa Corporation (2009)

  • Herb Pharm (2008)

  • Traditional Medicinals (2007)

  • Nature’s Way Products (2006)

AHPA Herbal Insight Award

  • Rosemary Gladstar (2025)

  • Sidney Sudberg, Alkemist Labs (2024)

  • David Winston, Herbalist & Alchemist (2023)

  • Cassandra Quave, Quave Research Group & Emory University (2022)

  • Safety Call International (2021)

  • Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition (2020)

  • Kelly Kindscher, University of Kansas (2019)

  • United Plant Savers (2018)

  • Scott Bass, Sidley Austin, LLP (2017)

  • Loren Israelsen, United Natural Products Alliance (2017)

  • Paula Brown, British Columbia Institute of Technology's Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (2016)

  • Tieraona Low Dog (2015)

  • Dr. Lyle Craker, University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture (2014)

  • Josef Brinckmann, Traditional Medicinals (2013)

  • Roy Upton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (2012)

  • Members of the Expert Advisory Council for the revision to AHPA's Botanical Safety Handbook: Zoe Gardner, Michael McGuffin, Roy Upton, Mary Hardy, Tieraona Low Dog, Aviva Romm, Soaring Bear, David Winston, Lyle Craker, and Daniel Gagnon (2011)

  • Ikhlas A. Khan, National Center for Natural Products Research and University of Mississippi (2010)

  • Philip Waddington, Natural Health Products Directorate, Health Canada, 2000-2008 (2009)

  • Steven Foster, Steven Foster Group (2008)

  • Stephen Straus, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, 1999-2006 (2008)

  • Joseph Betz, Dietary Supplement Methods and Reference Materials Program, Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH (2007)

  • Norman Farnsworth, Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois (2006)

AHPA Herbal Diversity & Inclusion Award

  • Radicle Science (2025)

  • Women in Nutraceuticals (2024)

  • Planting Justice (2022)

  • Naturade (2021)

AHPA Environmental Impact Award

  • One Step Closer (2025)

  • Susan Leopold, United Plant Savers (2024)

  • Shawn Donnille, Mountain Rose Herbs (2023)

  • Rodale Institute (2022)

Special Awards

  • 2025 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award: Edward Fletcher

  • 2025 Visionary Award: Dr. Muhammed Majeed (Posthumous)

  • 2025 Herbal Pioneer Award: Caroline MacDougall

  • 2025 Service to Herbal Knowledge Award: Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed., Expert Advisory Council (David Bunting, Mitch Coven, Daniel Gagnon, Wilson Lau, Roy Upton, David Winston, Steven Yeager) & Editors (Wendy Applequist, Holly E. Johnson, Michael McGuffin, Merle Zimmermann)

  • 2024 Herbal Advocacy Award: NOW Foods

  • 2024 Herbal Champion Award: Governor Bill Richardson (Posthumous)

  • 2023 AHPA Herbal Pioneer Award: Lise Groleau

  • 2023 AHPA Lifetime Achievement in Collaboration Award: Joseph Betz

  • 2021 AHPA Centennial Award: Indena

  • 2021 AHPA Herbal Pioneer Award: Tony Hayes

  • 2020 AHPA Visionary Award: Dr. Ed Alstat

  • 2019 AHPA Herbal Pioneer Award: Sara Katz

  • 2019 AHPA Super Natural Award: Mark Blumenthal, American Botanical Council

  • 2018 AHPA Lifetime Achievement in Research Award: Dr. James "Jim" Duke

  • 2018 AHPA Lifetime Achievement in Legislation Award: Senator Orrin Hatch

  • 2018 AHPA Journalistic Excellence Award: Heather Granato, Informa

  • 2017 AHPA Visionary Award: Elwood Richard

  • 2016 AHPA Lifetime Achievement Award: Senator Tom Harkin

  • 2016 AHPA Visionary Award: Robert "Bob" Ullman (Posthumous)

  • 2015 AHPA Journalistic Excellence Award: Stephen Daniells & Hank Schultz, NutraIngredients-USA

  • 2014 AHPA Visionary Award: Virgo Executive Team

  • 2013 AHPA Visionary Award: Lynda LeMole

  • 2012 AHPA Visionary Award: Michael Roland Shaw Moore

  • 2011 AHPA Visionary Award: James May


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