AUSTIN, TX - The 10th annual Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Research Symposium is only hours away, and we here at AndNowUKnow are eagerly awaiting all of the latest food safety nuggets of truth. I spoke with Doug Grant, Executive Vice President and COO for Oppy, to learn more about the importance of the Symposium.

“The session I’m moderating is titled 'How to Fuel Change.' The panelists are all senior food safety professionals who will discuss their experience implementing research from CPS projects to improve their own food safety programs," he told me.

Over two days, panel discussions with industry professionals from the entire produce supply chain will take place, including ones with PMA CEO Cathy Burns; Donna Lynn Browne of Naturipe Farms; Suresh DeCosta of Lipman Family Farms; De Ann Davis of Church Brothers Farms; and Walter Ram of Giumarra Companies. A number of scientists from universities across the country will also present new information and discuss science-based solutions to advance food safety plans.

These sessions are meant to inspire change and provide new tools for attendees to take back to their own companies and hopefully, as Dougtells me, collectively advance the level of food safety across the industry.

“There’s a lot of interactive discussions during the panel sessions,” he said. “It’s a chance to really learn what the latest developments are in food safety and I’m sure everyone is going to have some really great takeaways from this symposium. My biggest hope is that companies will have some a-ha moments, during which they can pick up something brand new and then implement it in their organizations with great results. Any opportunity for companies to engage in food safety on a day-to-day basis would be a huge advancement.”

Amen to that! For the latest in what’s happening in the food safety space, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.

Oppy