Miles McEvoy, leader of Washington State's organic food program for more than two decades, has been tapped to head USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), effective Oct. 1. His official title will be deputy administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) with responsibility for the NOP.Announcing the appointment Sept. 17, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also disclosed that the NOP will become an independent program area within AMS "because of the increased visibility and emphasis on organic agriculture throughout the farming community, evolving consumer preferences, and the enhanced need for governmental oversight of this widely expanded program.