WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has announced that Christina Ferreira, Ph.D., will join the organization as Vice President, Food Safety & Quality as of today, June 15, 2026. Dr. Ferreira brings more than 13 years of applied research and regulatory experience at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to the role, where she will serve as a trusted scientific resource for IFPA members on microbial hazards, produce safety, and quality across the supply chain.

In this position, Dr. Ferreira will provide technical guidance to members, lead the development of science-based best practice resources, support industry-wide efforts in root cause analysis, and partner very closely with the food safety advocacy team. She will be a part of the Science and Technology team but will work with team experts with deep food safety expertise that spans both technical science and regulatory affairs, ensuring members have access to specialized support at every level of the policy and production landscape.

"Christina's appointment reflects exactly the kind of commitment IFPA has made to food safety programs," said Dr. Max Teplitski, chief science officer at IFPA, in the recent release. "She brings a rare combination of skill and experience, including deep bench science, regulatory fluency, and the ability to translate complex findings into practical guidance that growers and industry partners can actually use. With Christina on our Science and Technology team, working alongside our food safety regulatory experts, IFPA members have access to the kind of specialized, science-backed support that makes a real difference in how our industry maintains consumer confidence in fruits and vegetables -- the healthiest, most nutritious products on a supermarket shelf."

Dr. Ferreira comes to IFPA from the FDA's Human Foods Program, Office of Applied Microbiology and Technology, where her research centered on the persistence and dissemination of foodborne pathogens in agricultural water, soils, and plant systems. She contributed to the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual method development and served as a scientific advisor across the FDA program offices. Her international work also included technical collaboration initiatives in Indonesia and Latin America focused on method harmonization, applied training, and shared food safety approaches across diverse production contexts.

Dr. Ferreira holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Maryland and is PCQI certified.

“I’ve spent my career studying how pathogens behave in produce systems and how science can be used to better understand, prevent, and reduce food safety risks,” said Dr. Ferreira. “I’m excited to bring that experience directly to IFPA members and work alongside growers, shippers, and industry partners as they navigate an increasingly complex food safety and regulatory landscape. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that the most effective food safety solutions are the ones grounded in strong science yet realistic enough to work in day-to-day operations.”

Dr. Ferreira is based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, enabling regular engagement with federal agencies and industry stakeholders. In addition to Dr. Ferreira, industry veteran Erik Larsen will also join the Science and Technology team as the Director of Supply Chain this month, where he will oversee the Supply Chain of the Future industry-wide collaboration as well as IFPA’s initiatives on FSMA204 and lot-level traceability.