AUSTIN, TX - The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) will have its 10th annual Research Symposium at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas, on June 18-19 to discuss new science and technology for food safety in the produce industry.

"We believe this will be our highest attended event," said Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, Executive Director. "This is our 10th annual Symposium and more people will attend the event in Austin than we had at the previous ninth Symposium. We see in the registrations a really high response from the produce supply chain, and we are also seeing a great response from the government regulatory agencies, in addition to our academics. So, we believe that this is going to be quite an excellent gathering of those who play an important role in food safety!"

According to a press release, Fernandez-Fenaroli, as well as Drew McDonald, VP Quality and Food Safety for Taylor Farms and Chair of the CPS Technical Committee, will outline thrilling new changes and research directions for the CPS Research Program. They will also announce the very first recipients of the CPS Challenge Award.

"We couldn’t have done this without our sponsors," said Fernandez-Fenaroli. "We need to recognize the companies that really came and offered their financial support to this event. We have a lot of excitement built around the Symposium site and the event itself. I have high hopes for excellent outcomes and opportunities for people to meet and also to find out the new science that’s available to them to improve safety programs."

For the conclusion of this session, the following scientists will present Lightning Reports on Listeria growth and monitoring programs:

• Xiuping Jiang, Clemson University
• Renata Ivanek, Cornell University
• Laura Strawn, Virginia Tech
• Xiangwu Nou, USDA ARS Beltsville

For updates on the 2019 CPS Research Symposium, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.

Center for Produce Safety