For Immediate Release: July 1, 2016
Contacts:
Robert Sakata 303-947-3097 or rtsakata@aol.com
Marilyn Wentz 303-594-3827 or admin@coloradoproduce.org
Colorado Grower Addresses Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium
SEATTLE, WASH.–Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) President Robert Sakata, Sakata Family Farms, Brighton, Colo., participated in a panel at the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Research Symposium May 29 on animal intrusion and on-farm pathogen detection. He was the sole grower on a panel of researchers and government agency representatives who discussed research relating to keeping produce safe from contamination by wild animals, especially birds.
Sakata emphasized the importance of doing research to help growers reduce risks of food borne contamination.
“Food safety is the number one concern of growers,” said Sakata. “Even when we do everything right, something beyond our control, like bird droppings, can interfere with our efforts. We need new technology and information to help mitigate these sorts of risk.”
“The symposium featured a range of presentations on the latest research, including a case study of the Listeria outbreak in caramel apples, the use of metal impregnated bacteria specific phages for rapid bacterial testing, soil remediation following extreme flood events and irrigation water treatment methods,” said Sakata. “There is no other research symposium like this in the United States, whose focus is on-farm produce safety.”
CFVGA will host the 2017 CPS Research Symposium June 20-21 in Denver.
CPS is a collaborative partnership that helps fund credible, independent science-based research to fill the knowledge gaps on produce food safety. Research yielding ready-to-use, data-based solutions or information that allows growers and other industry components to prevent or minimize produce safety vulnerabilities across the marketing chain is of highest priority. For more information about CPS and its research projects, see www.centerforproducesafety.org
The CFVGA is comprised of more than 200 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $300 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 60,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production. For more on the CFVGA, visit https://coloradoproduce.org
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