Skip Hulett brings legal expertise and sustainability credentials to guide U.S. indoor-farming policy

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance has named Skip Hulett, chief legal officer of greenhouse-produce leader NatureSweet, to its 2025 board of directors, adding a veteran attorney whose sustainability record and regulatory experience are expected to reinforce the trade group’s push for favorable indoor-farming policy and wider consumer acceptance.

The appointment, effective May 8, 2025, places Hulett at the center of industry efforts to scale high-tech fruit and vegetable production while ensuring that U.S. growers remain competitive in domestic and export markets.

Hulett joined NatureSweet in 2018 and has since spearheaded landmark initiatives, most notably guiding the tomato brand to become the largest controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) company in the world to achieve B Corp certification, a designation that measures social, environmental, and governance performance.

His résumé also includes a term as a Texas state district court judge and the founding of a successful law practice, credentials that colleagues say equip him to navigate the complex legal frameworks governing indoor agriculture.

He remains an active member of the State Bar of Texas and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

The 2025 board reflects a deliberate mix of greenhouse operators, vertical-farm innovators, and supply-chain specialists.

Alongside Hulett, new directors include Jamie Burrows of Vertical Future, David Einstandig of Mastronardi Produce, Kyle Freedman of Jiffy Group, and Tim Reusch of Dramm Water, while BrightFarms chief financial officer Steve Campione steps up as board chair after serving as vice chair.

Continuing members such as Little Leaf Farms co-founder Tim Cunniff (treasurer) and AeroFarms executive Dane Almassy provide institutional continuity for the 15-member panel.

“I want to thank Dan for his service chairing the Alliance, as we’ve made great strides under his leadership. I’d also like to welcome Steve to the chairmanship and all of our new and continuing board members. The CEA Alliance and the entire indoor farming sector are fortunate to have all of these business leaders helping guide our industry into the future.”

Tom Stenzel, Executive Director at CEA Alliance

Hulett believes the organization is poised to accelerate that momentum.

“I’m honored to join the CEA Alliance board and the opportunity to support an industry that’s redefining how we grow healthy food and working to expand greenhouse production in the United States. I look forward to working with fellow board members to promote innovation, shape smart U.S. policy, and ensure controlled environment agriculture is recognized as a critical part of a resilient, sustainable food system in America.”

Skip Hulett, Chief Legal Officer at NatureSweet

Industry observers note that his appointment comes as controlled-environment operations from glasshouses to multi-tier vertical farms seek clearer federal and state guidelines on energy incentives, water-use metrics, and food-safety audits.

Hulett’s courtroom and corporate background, coupled with NatureSweet’s experience exporting tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers across North America, positions him to translate grower concerns into policy proposals that could streamline permitting and unlock new investment.

The Alliance’s refreshed board also underscores the sector’s widening geographic footprint.

Campione oversees BrightFarms’ network of regional greenhouses in the Midwest and Southeast; Burrows leads London- and Austin-based Vertical Future in deploying modular vertical farms; Einstandig manages legal affairs for Mastronardi Produce’s SUNSET brand across the United States, Mexico, and Canada; Freedman advises substrate supplier Jiffy Group on global CEA markets; and Reusch brings hydroponic-systems expertise from Dramm Water.

Their combined reach gives the Alliance representation across leafy-green, tomato, berry, and herb segments as well as packaging and irrigation technology.

Hulett’s track record with third-party certifications may also influence upcoming Alliance priorities.

NatureSweet secured Fair Trade and Equitable Food Initiative seals before attaining B Corp status, achievements that required rigorous audits of worker welfare, environmental impact, and supply-chain transparency.

Those credentials, analysts say, align with CEA operators’ broader goal of distinguishing climate-controlled produce from field-grown alternatives through measurable sustainability commitments.

Looking ahead, the board will guide advocacy in three areas: securing federal tax incentives for climate-smart infrastructure, harmonizing food-safety rules across states to reduce compliance costs, and promoting consumer education around year-round, pesticide-reduced crops.