A $900,000 donation from the Produce Marketing Association will keep the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) operating through 2013. The contribution, which will be distributed over the next two years, will cover administrative expenses through 2013, enabling the organization to use all other donations to directly fund research projects.
Established through a public/private partnership five years ago, CPS provides information to the produce industry and government entities. Initial funding for the group was provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the University of California, Produce Marketing Association and Taylor Farms.
CPS has created a searchable database of global produce safety research, is developing industry training and outreach programs and funds original research. Over the past four years, CPS has funded more than 50 research projects from grants totaling more than $9.2 million from government and private sources.
“This gift could not come at a more opportune time for industry and demonstrates the leadership of PMA members,” said Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, executive director, CPS. “Ensuring the health and safety of the consumer can only be enhanced through continued research and process improvements to mitigate any potential produce safety issues that may occur in the future.”
