Media Contacts: Nancy Lungren, Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs, (916) 531-3039, nlungren@cdfa.ca.gov, Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462
WHAT: California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura will join representatives of UC Davis and the university’s Western Institute for Food Safety and Security (WIFSS), the president of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), and other farming leaders to announce a major research funding commitment that will help create a new Center for Produce Safety at UC Davis.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m.
WHO: A.G. Kawamura, Secretary California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dr. Bennie Osburn, Dean of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Robert Atwill and Dr. Linda Harris, WIFSS
Bryan Silbermann, President, PMA
Doug Mosebar, President, California Farm Bureau Federation
Matt McInerney, Exec. VP, Western Growers Association
Dr. Drew McDonald, VP, Quality Systems, Taylor Farms
WHERE: Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, 279 Cousteau Place, Suite 100, Davis, CA
WHY: CDFA, PMA, UC Davis, and other industry and government partners will announce funding to help establish the new research center at WIFSS.
“Following the E.Coli episode in spinach last fall, government and private industry have been working together in important ways to make our already outstanding food safety system even better,” said Secretary Kawamura. “The recently formed Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement is a major piece of the puzzle. Research, training and outreach constitute the other major piece. We are proud of our partnership with the university and the produce industry and look forward to positive steps in the years ahead.”