Three companies have donated a total of $200,000 to the Center for Produce Safety. International Paper, a global paper and packaging company, pledged $100,000. "International Paper is a large supplier of corrugated packaging for customers in the fresh produce industry, where food safety is of critical importance," said Peter Heist, area vice president, International Paper. "Supporting this valuable research is just one more way that International Paper can add value to our customers by helping to ensure the delivery of safe, fresh, high-quality produce to consumers."
H-E-B and Duda Farm Fresh Foods each pledged $50,000. "H-E-B recognizes that produce is a part of a healthy diet and is committed to offering high quality product each and every day. We are also committed to safe food and are proud to support CPS in its research efforts focused in this area," stated Hugh Topper, vice president of Fresh. Sam Duda, vice president, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, noted, "Duda is proud to be a part of CPS and believes that food safety research is critical to the current and future health of our industry. We believe the scientific research funded by CPS is crucial to enhance food safety and we are thrilled to make a contribution toward this goal."
The gifts will support CPS's competitive research grant programs. The center funds produce-general and commodity-specific research to address the fresh produce industry's food safety research needs. With the help of its public and private sector research partners, CPS has compiled an impressive three-year body of work, awarding nearly $9 million and funding 59 one and two year research projects at 19 universities and organizations. This year an additional $3 million is available to fund projects that will be evaluated through CPS's 2012 request for proposals.
"The produce supply chain has stepped up, once again, to show that collective effort can result in success. These three companies representing retail, production and industry suppliers demonstrate that food safety is taken seriously by the fresh produce industry," remarked Stephen Patricio, chair of the CPS Advisory Board. "The Center for Produce Safety is designed for industry wide collaboration to identify knowledge gaps in produce food safety and find the mechanisms to fill those gaps. Funding targeted research projects is a key component of the CPS program. The vote of confidence for CPS given by these pledges is greatly appreciated."
For more information:
Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli
Center for Produce Safety
Tel: +1 (530) 757-5777
bfernandez@cps.ucdavis.edu
H-E-B and Duda Farm Fresh Foods each pledged $50,000. "H-E-B recognizes that produce is a part of a healthy diet and is committed to offering high quality product each and every day. We are also committed to safe food and are proud to support CPS in its research efforts focused in this area," stated Hugh Topper, vice president of Fresh. Sam Duda, vice president, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, noted, "Duda is proud to be a part of CPS and believes that food safety research is critical to the current and future health of our industry. We believe the scientific research funded by CPS is crucial to enhance food safety and we are thrilled to make a contribution toward this goal."
The gifts will support CPS's competitive research grant programs. The center funds produce-general and commodity-specific research to address the fresh produce industry's food safety research needs. With the help of its public and private sector research partners, CPS has compiled an impressive three-year body of work, awarding nearly $9 million and funding 59 one and two year research projects at 19 universities and organizations. This year an additional $3 million is available to fund projects that will be evaluated through CPS's 2012 request for proposals.
"The produce supply chain has stepped up, once again, to show that collective effort can result in success. These three companies representing retail, production and industry suppliers demonstrate that food safety is taken seriously by the fresh produce industry," remarked Stephen Patricio, chair of the CPS Advisory Board. "The Center for Produce Safety is designed for industry wide collaboration to identify knowledge gaps in produce food safety and find the mechanisms to fill those gaps. Funding targeted research projects is a key component of the CPS program. The vote of confidence for CPS given by these pledges is greatly appreciated."
For more information:
Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli
Center for Produce Safety
Tel: +1 (530) 757-5777
bfernandez@cps.ucdavis.edu