CPS Launches 14 New Projects to Address Key Food Safety Issues in the Industry

Sept. 12, 2024

The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) has announced 14 new research projects totaling over $3.3 million to address important food safety concerns in the fresh produce industry. These projects were chosen through CPS's annual call for research proposals, which addresses the industry's most pressing scientific needs. These operations are being led by investigators from eight states in the United States and Mexico.

This year’s research will focus on critical topics, including flood setback distances, brush sanitation, and plant-animal co-existence, with a targeted emphasis on pathogens such as E. coli O157, Salmonella, Cyclospora, and hepatitis A. The outcomes of these studies are expected to have significant implications across the entire fresh produce supply chain.

To ensure that the research aligns with industry needs, proposals were rigorously reviewed and refined by CPS’s Technical Committee and other experts. The projects began in January 2025 and are expected to be completed within one to two years.

“These research initiatives were made possible by the generosity of industry contributors to CPS’s Campaign for Research and grants from Specialty Crop Block Grant Programs in California,Florida,Texas, and Washington. Their support is essential for CPS to continue funding science, finding solutions, and driving change in produce safety,” said Joe Pezzini, chair of CPS's Board of Directors and senior director of ag operations for Taylor Farms.

Progress and final findings from these projects will be shared with the industry through CPS’s annual Research Symposium, research updates via email, and articles in trade media.

"We are looking forward to starting our new project with CPS in 2025 – including site visits and collaborating with industry advisors. Our goal is to better define the factors that support Salmonella growth in onions. We hope that these findings provide scientific evidence to support the industry in identifying factors that contribute to risk. " Abby Snyder, PhD, Cornell University.

"We are excited to begin our 2025 CPS project that aims to develop an infectious hepatitis A virus screening assay. Using sound science with an eye toward practical application, we will be working with our berry industry collaborators to design a more relevant method that allows for understanding of the true public health risk of positive results." Lee-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D., Emerita, North Carolina State University.

Grant Recipients

All projects will begin in January 2025

Chetan Badgujar, Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Developing an automated and digital tool for integrated bird pest management in fresh produce fields

Teresa M. Bergholz, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Genomic and phenotypic assessment of E. coli O157:H7 REPEXH02 strains

Aaron Bivins, Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Hydrogel affinity particles to enable high throughput screening of soft fruits for intact HAV virions

Kerry Cooper, Ph.D., University of Arizona
How does weather influence transmission of E. coli O157:H7 from animal operations to produce fields?

Govindaraj Dev Kumar, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Color and material optimization of brushes for improved light-based sanitation

Le-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D., Emerita, North Carolina State University
Development of a screening assay for hepatitis A virus which correlates to infectivity 

Asis Khan, Ph.D., USDA-ARS
An immunomagnetic separation method for concentrating and increasing the recovery efficiency of Cyclospora

Scott Lenaghan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Validation of novel DNA isolation procedures from limited numbers of Cyclospora oocysts

Channah Rock, Ph.D., University of Arizona
Methods for determining groundwater under the influence of surface water, and BMPs for mitigating distribution system contamination 

Jose Santos Garcia Alvarado, Ph.D., Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
Two validated first-level screening assays for infectious hepatitis A virus by detection of an intact capsid on frozen berries

Abby Snyder, Ph.D., Cornell University
Salmonella risk is enhanced by onion condition or defect

Abby Snyder, Ph.D., Cornell University
Solutions to brush sanitation tailored to the producer’s appetite for capital investment and labor intensity

Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., Cornell University
Agent-based models can predict appropriate risk-based setback distances for flooded fields 

Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., Cornell University
Quantitative microbial risk assessments need to consider quality parameters to accurately predict produce food safety risks 
 
All annual research awards can be found on the Funded Research Projects page on the CPS website