2011 Produce Research Symposium

2011 Produce Research Symposium

249 attendees convened at the second annual Produce Research Symposium in Orlando, Florida on June 28, 2011. 16 projects were discussed by panels made up of industry and government officials and 27 projects were displayed as a part of CPS' ongoing effort to translate scientific research into a compact easy to read format.


Mike Spinazzola of DRS and Martin Ley of Del Campo Supreme discuss prior to the start of the Symposium.

Keith Schneider, University of Florida shows his presentation to fellow presenting scientist Sunny Luo, USDA-ARS before the start of Session I.

Outgoing CPS Advisory Board chairman Tim York, Markon gave opening remarks and welcomed the attendees.

Mary Ellen Burris of Wegmans Food Markets took the podium to make a special announcement.

Bill Pool and Dave Corsi, Wegmans Food Markets stand by the $250,000 donation presented to CPS on behalf of the Wegman Family Chairtable Foundation.

Wegmans Food Market representatives and CPS representatives with the donation.

Alec Leach, Taylor Farms and Joe Pezzini, Ocean Mist Farms

Panelists from Session I were made up of representatives from the Florida Tomato Committee, FDA-CFSAN, Del Campo Supreme Inc., and DRS, Inc.

Barry Eisenberg, United Fresh Produce Association discusses life as a former processor and how to test a new water sanitation system at a commercial level.

Ed Beckman, California Tomato Growers glances over the program during Session I presentations. Sitting next to Beckman is Jim Lugg, retired Chiquita/Fresh Express.

Greg Komar from Growers Express asks a question during Session I.

Panelists look toward Tim Birmingham, Almond Board of California to give his input during Session II.

Joe Pezzini, Ocean Mist Farms gives his opinion about zero-valent iron treatment and what types of flow rates he would need to achieve to make this work.

Chep's Craig Kelly, gold sponsor had the opportunity to open Session III following lunch.

Tim York, Markon served as the moderator for the days largest panel of 10 for Session III on "mining" data.

Stephen Patricio, Westside Produce talks about the opportunities of "mining" industry data.

Session IV panelists and scinetists sit and wait for their presentations and discussions to begin.

Dr. Bob Whitaker, Produce Marketing Association served as the moderator for Sessions I, II and IV.

Ed Beckman, California Tomato Farmers gives his opinion on research presented on a Salmonella resistant tomato.

Stefan Wuertz, UC Davis talks about the collaboration that took place with co-PI Osnat Gillor at the Ben Gurion University in Israel.

Dallas Hoover, University of Delaware discusses his work on basil and leafy greens and the work completed by co-PI Sima Yaron, Technion University in Israel.

Martha Roberts, University of Florida waits for her cue to speak about the risk of norovirus in produce.

The Session V panel focused on the "big picture" of applying what was learned at the symposium. The panel was made up of representatives from PMA, FDA, Ocean Mist Farms and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Neal Van Alfen, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis ended the symposium by inviting attendees to the symposium next year in Davis, CA on June 27.

2011 presenting scientists and panel members.