Fresh fruits and vegetables have increasing become responsible for outbreaks of foodborne illness. For example, between 1996 and 2008, there were at least 82 foodborne outbreaks associated with fresh fruits and vegetables, and these outbreaks resulted in more than 10,000 illnesses and several deaths.
Clearly, there is an acute need to develop effective solutions and strategies to reduce the outbreaks of foodborne disease related to the production of fresh produce. This webcast will provide updates on research needs in the area of produce safety and help researchers prepare research proposals.
Webcast Objectives:
Intended Audience(s): Product Developers, Company Management, Sales & Marketing Personnel, Plant Production Personnel, Quality Assurance Managers and Supervisors, Food Safety Specialists, Product manufacturers, Research Staff, Regulators, Academics, Students Learning Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Non-Member Registration Fee: 145 Member Registration Fee: 95 Student Registration Fee: 95 Presentation Date: 05/26/10 12:00 PM Duration: 5 hours
Dr Xuetong Fan Research Food Technologist USDA-ARS-Eastern Reg Res Ctr
In 1999, Dr. Fan joined USDA-Eastern Regional Research Center, and has modified and developed food safety interventions and processing technologies to meet the needs of consumers for safe, wholesome, nutritious and attractive foods. Currently, Dr. Fan functions as an independent scientist and as a project leader in the area of food safety and quality, develops/modifies food safety intervention technologies, evaluates their effects on pathogen reductions and all aspects of food quality and develops innovative research approaches to minimize quality loss and accumulation of undesirable chemicals.
Elizabeth Berdis Plant Manager Cvista
Elizabeth Berdis is a technical manager at Firmenich where she oversees the supply chain industrialization and quality control. Elizabeth has vast experience in biology with an emphasis on cell and molecular biology. She previously worked at USDA-ARS (agricultural research center) in the entomology group, focusing on Diaprepes abbreviatus (Root weevil) which affects citrus crop. Elizabeth has spent the last 15 years in the citrus industry in citrus flavors and essential oils.
Damanna R Rao
Ram Rao is a National Program Leader with the USDA.
Michael Mahovic FDA
Dr. Mahovic earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in Plant Pathology, specializing in Postharvest Pathology, at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He joined the FDA in 2008, as a Consumer Safety Officer on the Produce Safety Staff. At FDA, Dr. Mahovic serves as a technical expert in produce safety and plant pathology, with emphasis on microbial contamination during postharvest handling. He is involved in outreach with stakeholders, collaboration with federal and non-federal research institutions, and functions as a team member in drafting produce-related FDA policy and guidance documents. Before joining FDA, Dr. Mahovic was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Education Center, Painter, VA, on the Delmarva peninsula. His postdoctoral involved field research on various commodities produced on the Eastern Shore, and postharvest challenges that resulted from in-field conditions and handling. Another major aspect of his research involved tracking, defining and mitigating field conditions leading to the contamination of tomato fruit with the human pathogen Salmonella enterica serotype Newport. As an extension researcher, 5 percent of Dr. Mahovic’s appointment was to conduct extension and outreach for local, regional and national growers. This included participation in local educational efforts, presenting research reports at professional and industry meetings, and working in one-on-one situations with local growers to address their immediate needs.
Bonnie Fernandez Center For Produce Safety, UC Davis
Ms. Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business Management at California Poly State University, San Luis Obispo and her Masters of Business Administration from Sacramento State University. After fifteen years as Executive Director at the California Wheat Commission, she joined the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) in 2008 as its Executive Director working to leverage public and private expertise and research dollars to address critical risk management issues in the growth, harvest, processing and distribution of fresh produce. As Executive Director she focuses the CPC’s attention on critical food safety issues affecting the fresh produce industry and establishes collaborations among public agencies and private industry to maximize the impact of research budgets. In her past, Ms. Fenaroli has been chairman of the U.S. Wheat Food Aid Working Group and chairman of the U.S. Wheat Phytosanitary Committee. She has also been a member of USDA Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee, USDA’s Grain Inspection Advisory Committee, AgriBusiness President’s Council and the Agriculture Advisory Committee of the California Commission for Economic Development.