WASHINGTON, DC - It seems that 12 produce professionals are about to embark on another new journey, as the United Fresh Produce Association has recently announced the Class Two Fellows of the Produce Safety Immersion Program.
“We’re thrilled to welcome class two of the Produce Safety Immersion Program as they begin their journey as produce safety professionals,” said Dr. Jennifer McEntire, Vice President of Food Safety. “We successfully adapted class one’s program and are excited to take what we learned to effectively build the technical capacity, critical thinking skills, and leadership attributes of this next class through a virtual format.”
The program, sponsored by Renaissance Food Group and Ecolab, combines formal webinars, technical seminars, informal networking, problem-solving exercises, group work and individual projects, as well as mentorship, according to a press release. Four esteemed safety professionals will be mentors to the program fellows and accompany them at each meeting, including Suresh DeCosta, Director of Food Safety, North America and Latin America, Lipman Family Farms; Natalie Dyenson, Vice President, Food Safety and Quality, Dole Food Company; Sergio Nieto-Montenegro, President, Food Safety Consulting and Training Solutions; and Walter Ram, Vice President of Food Safety, Guimarra Companies.
Members of the United Fresh Food Safety Council Steering Committee evaluated early-to-mid career professionals with less than five years’ worth of experience in produce safety based on their career aspirations, backgrounds, and roles in the industry.
The Class Two Fellows mentioned in the release include:
- Kelsey Adams, Taylor Farms, Texas, Dallas, TX
- Abraham Cardenas, Taylor Farms Fresh Vegetables, Salinas, CA
- Jordan DeVries, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Grand Rapids, MI
- Isabel Gomez-Garcia, Walther P. Rawl & Sons, Inc., Pelion, SC
- Hilal Kasapoglu, Taylor Farms, North Kingtown, RI
- Kaylie Lemon, Curation Foods, Santa Maria, CA
- Mike Lepera, Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
- Jose Morales, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Salinas, CA
- Alex Morales, Jr., Prima® Wawona, Reedley, CA
- LaTaunya Tillman, Driscoll’s, Tampa, FL
- Mari Villegas, Heinzen Manufacturing International, Gilroy, CA
- Bristol Wells, Highland Ag Solutions, Mulberry, FL
The 12 Class Two fellows will begin this mentorship during a virtual kickoff meeting later this month.
Congratulations to these fellows on their new journey within the world of fresh! Keep checking AndNowUKnow as we bring you all the latest news in this industry.
