Anaheim, CA — The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has awarded United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) President Loren Israelsen and Scott Bass, partner at Sidley Austin LLC, with its 2017 Herbal Insight Award at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim on March 9th.

Since 1982 AHPA has been a proponent of responsible commerce regarding herbs and herbals products and has awarded those individuals and corporations that they feel assist them towards that goal since 2006.

"Working with plants and the people who love plants has been the greatest gift," Israelsen said. "As the industry continues to evolve, it is critical that we remain engaged and continue to remind the next generation about the values that make the herbal industry so extraordinary.

Israelsen extensive experience in the industry having been a founding member of AHPA as well as serving as vice president and as general council from 1982 through 1987. Scott Bass, Israelsen’s partner at Sidley Austin LLP, was also honored with the 2017 Herbal Insight Award alongside Israelsen.

“Receiving the AHPA Herbal Insight award, along with my old friend and colleague Scott Bass, is deeply touching as a recognition of my early work with AHPA and the subsequent growth and progress that makes AHPA such an important organization today,” Israelsen said of the honor.

Scott Bass contributed to the creation of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act by ensuring that consumers would have access to herbal dietary supplements.

Lynda LeMole and Peggy Brevoort had the distinction of presenting the award to Israelsen and cited the work that Israelsen done has been of great benefit to AHPA. Israelsen presented Bass with his award.

"Scott is the most congenial, professional and honest individual I've had the pleasure of working with," Israelsen said. "He helped kill a proposed deal that could have cut herbal supplements out of DSHEA."

Other AHPA awards and recipients can be found at the American Herbal Products Association website,www.ahpa.org.