Welcome to the CPS News & Announcements center. Here you can find information on recently funded projects, CPS events and applying for upcoming grants.
Dr. Kelly Bright, an associate research professor with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is leading the project titled "Enteric viruses as new indicators of human and cattle fecal contamination of irrigation waters." Dr. Marc Verhougstraete, an assistant professor in the College of Public Health, is co-investigator.
Research led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is examining a new irrigation water sample collection method that is expected to enable better detection of pathogens and fecal indicators to better reflect microbial risks and fecal sources for irrigation water. The project is looking at surrogate organisms that may be better indicators of fecal contamination than E. coli, said Vincent Hill, Ph.D., and an environmental engineer with the CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases.
The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation, in addition to several other produce industry leaders, have recently added their names to the roll call for - and a combined $420,000 to the coffers of - the Center for Produce Safety's (CPS) Campaign for Produce Safety, CPS has announced. The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation is joined by (in alphabetical order) Amigo Farms, Inc., Coastline Family Farms, Inc., Diversified Restaurant Systems, Inc., National Watermelon Association, New York Apple Association, Inc., New York Apple Sales, Inc., Procacci Brothers Sales Corp. and Santa Rosa Produce, LLC.
Western Growers has committed $1 million to the Center for Produce Safety's (CPS) Campaign for Produce Safety, officials from both organizations have announced. Western Growers' contribution brings total campaign commitments to more than $10 million - over halfway toward CPS's goal.
Even with the best-laid plans, delays can happen during pistachio harvest and post-harvest handling. Not only can the slowdowns reduce overall nut processing efficiency and quality, but they also may have food safety implications.A two-year research project led by Dr. Linda Harris, Cooperative Extension specialist in microbial food safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, examined the potential for those delays to increase food safety risks.
The fresh produce supply chain continues to unite to support the Center for Produce Safety's (CPS) Campaign for Produce Safety, as leading retail and foodservice buyers and well-known producers alike announced commitments to fund produce-specific food safety research.
The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) today announced it has received a $750,000 commitment from Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA), the trade group representing all segments of the tree fruit industry in the state of Washington.
A group of Spanish researchers is conducting studies into sustainable approaches for using chlorine dioxide to disinfect surface irrigation water for produce fields. But they say their results should be useful to growers worldwide, regardless of where they farm.
For all press inquiries please contact Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli at bonnie@centerforproducesafety.org.