<p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Hass Avocado Board is welcoming Nikki Ford as the organization's Nutrition Director. In the newly created position, Nikki reports to Executive Director Emiliano Escobedo.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“We have been working with top universities and researchers around the country since the research program was established in 2010,” said Escobedo. “The board has determined that building the body of science and generating scientific substantiation for the nutrition, health and wellness benefits of consuming more avocados will be critical to drive avocado demand in the United States. The decision to hire Nikki confirms our long term commitment to this objective.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The veteran nutritionist and nutrition research specialist joins HAB from her position at the Dell Pediatric Research Institute in Austin, where she also served as an adjunct faculty member at Texas State University, according to a press release.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“One exciting thing about my new role is that I can design studies and fund projects that will look at the impact of avocado consumption on weight loss and weight management. Not many published studies have examined that,” Ford said. “In my first year with HAB, we need to look at the research pipeline, identify what has the greatest potential for early studies and determine what types of barriers must be overcome before more intricate studies can be undertaken.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Nikki earned her doctorate in nutritional sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, following a Bachelor of Science in animal bioscience from Pennsylvania State University. She also brings a Certificate of Business Administration from the University of Illinois to her new role.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“Our current research pipeline is made up of seven clinical trials focused in cardiovascular health, weight management, diabetes and healthy living,” said Escobedo. “Nikki’s impressive background will increase the complexity and sophistication of this critical program going forward.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congratulations Nikki, on joining the HAB team!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.hassavocadoboard.com" target="_new"> HAB </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
