Person of the Year has allowed us to highlight some special people over the years, and in 2023 we are recognizing someone who is truly special to the team at WholeFoods Magazine: Mark Blumenthal, Founder & Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), Editor-in-Chief of HerbalGram & HerbClip, and Director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP).

I met Mark when my career in the natural products industry was just starting out, so he holds a very special place in my heart. I think pretty much everyone who has ever spent time with Mark would say something similar. When we first met, Mark greeted me as Howie’s daughter, as most people did at that time. It was the 1990s, and Mark was writing the Herbal Update column in WholeFoods Magazine. That column was so informative, and I attribute most of my early herbal knowledge to Mark. 

Mark has recognized my dad Howie Wainer for being the person who gave him his start in writing in this industry, and that evolved into more writing and editing after he launched HerbalGram, which is now celebrating 40 years in publication.

Since those days decades ago, every time I see Mark at a trade show or at an industry event, I am greeted with a warm smile and a hug. Not a birthday has gone by that I did not receive a phone call from Mark, or even better, a dinner together like I enjoyed this year. 

Mark is the kind of person who truly connects and cares. He was there to lift my spirits with wonderful stories about my mom, Sandy Wainer, when she passed. I know he has done the same for so many others who have been fortunate to be close to him. Over these many years, Mark has been the one who had to share unfortunate news with me about other industry friends who have passed, and he always delivered the news in the most caring, thoughtful way. 

Mark has been there for me for many good times, too. Like so many other children of industry friends, my children were gifted a turtle night light from Mark, and they love that night light to this day.

You can always find Mark in a room—just look for his signature Hawaiian-style HerbalGram shirt. Of course, he is often surrounded by others who want to spend time with him. 

ABC has been so instrumental with the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and other herbal associations for our herbal education, but that is just one aspect of what Mark has contributed to this industry. ABC also has been instrumental in helping to keep this industry ethical and transparent. Most recently, ABC has taken a lead role in the fight against adulteration of herbs. BAPP has been in the forefront and is slowly but surely helping to gain transparency in herbs and cleaning up our herbal products.  

"Mark Blumenthal has raised the bar in the natural products industry, and he helped us to be better and do better in the process." 

In recognition of Mark’s efforts to deliver education for four decades through HerbalGram, as well as for his work with BAPP and his fight for clean unadulterated herbs, Mark stands out as our 2023 Person of the Year. We aren’t the only ones who think he deserves the spotlight. The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) honored Mark with a tribute this year at their retreat, too.

You can hear what others in the industry have to say about Mark’s impact both professionally and personally. ABC employees share what they love most about working for ABC. There is not a person who meets Mark who does not like him. He is always quick with a joke, and we do love his comics. He is smart and knowledgeable; I learn something from every conversation. Many of our peers would call Mark their mentor. For these reasons and more, finding his successor must be a challenge—he certainly has raised the bar, and he helped us to be better and do better in the process.