Jim Gorny to head post-harvest center at UC-Davis
Jim Gorny to head post-harvest center at UC-Davis
The Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center at the University of California-Davis has selected Jim Gorny, senior vice president of food safety and technology for the United Fresh Produce Association and former vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the International Fresh- cut Produce Association, to join the center in the new position of executive director.
"Dr. Gorny is one of the most respected technical leaders in the produce industry and post-harvest academic community, and we are fortunate to add him to our team to significantly expand the center's established outreach programs," Jim Thompson, a cooperative extension post-harvest specialist and faculty member in the department of biological and agricultural engineering at UC-Davis, said in a statement.
Dr. Gorny will lead the center's internationally recognized efforts in providing technical information and knowledge to all sectors of the post-harvest value chain regarding means of maintaining the quality, safety and marketability of fresh fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. He and the center's scientists anticipate working collaboratively with the new Center for Produce Safety being established at UC-Davis.
"Earlier this year, the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center's faculty members all agreed that continued growth and success of the center would demand that we devote greater talent and resources to the center in the form a full-time executive director, and that's where Jim's leadership can take us," Mr. Thompson added in the statement.
Dr. Gorny will work directly with cooperative extension specialists and advisers and faculty members from the University of California and other leading academic institutions; international, national and regional trade associations and boards; and retail and foodservice companies to assist them in improving post-harvest handling practices throughout the distribution chain.
The center's goals are to effectively and efficiently communicate information and knowledge; foster collaboration among center members and the fruit, vegetable and ornamental industries as well as other academic and government institutions; and be internationally recognized as the primary resource for information on maintaining the quality, safety and marketability of produce and related commodities.
The center is part of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at UC-Davis and receives support from the UC Agriculture & Natural Resources division.
Dr. Gorny currently serves as senior vice president of food safety and technology for United. As the association's chief food-safety officer, he has advocated the membership's interests before health and safety regulatory officials, the Bush administration and Congress.
Previously, Dr. Gorny was a principal in Davis Fresh Technologies, serving in a consulting and advisory role to the produce industry in a wide range of post- harvest technology applications.
A native of Buffalo, NY, Dr. Gorny received his doctorate in plant biology in 1995 from the University of California-Davis and his master's and undergraduate degrees in food science from Louisiana State University. He begins his new position Aug. 1.
"Dr. Gorny is one of the most respected technical leaders in the produce industry and post-harvest academic community, and we are fortunate to add him to our team to significantly expand the center's established outreach programs," Jim Thompson, a cooperative extension post-harvest specialist and faculty member in the department of biological and agricultural engineering at UC-Davis, said in a statement.
Dr. Gorny will lead the center's internationally recognized efforts in providing technical information and knowledge to all sectors of the post-harvest value chain regarding means of maintaining the quality, safety and marketability of fresh fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. He and the center's scientists anticipate working collaboratively with the new Center for Produce Safety being established at UC-Davis.
"Earlier this year, the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center's faculty members all agreed that continued growth and success of the center would demand that we devote greater talent and resources to the center in the form a full-time executive director, and that's where Jim's leadership can take us," Mr. Thompson added in the statement.
Dr. Gorny will work directly with cooperative extension specialists and advisers and faculty members from the University of California and other leading academic institutions; international, national and regional trade associations and boards; and retail and foodservice companies to assist them in improving post-harvest handling practices throughout the distribution chain.
The center's goals are to effectively and efficiently communicate information and knowledge; foster collaboration among center members and the fruit, vegetable and ornamental industries as well as other academic and government institutions; and be internationally recognized as the primary resource for information on maintaining the quality, safety and marketability of produce and related commodities.
The center is part of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at UC-Davis and receives support from the UC Agriculture & Natural Resources division.
Dr. Gorny currently serves as senior vice president of food safety and technology for United. As the association's chief food-safety officer, he has advocated the membership's interests before health and safety regulatory officials, the Bush administration and Congress.
Previously, Dr. Gorny was a principal in Davis Fresh Technologies, serving in a consulting and advisory role to the produce industry in a wide range of post- harvest technology applications.
A native of Buffalo, NY, Dr. Gorny received his doctorate in plant biology in 1995 from the University of California-Davis and his master's and undergraduate degrees in food science from Louisiana State University. He begins his new position Aug. 1.
