Produce Safety

Core Management

The Core Management Group provides integral leadership in the planning, development, management, evaluation, and delivery of extension programming research and outreach objectives.

	Name	Role
	Amber Vallotton Fresh Produce Food Safety Team Coordinator & Extension Specialist School of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech avallott@vt.edu	Oversees all FPFST extension programming including internal capacity building and external outreach & resource development and efforts for VCE; provides on-the-ground agent mentoring and grower training and consultation for on-farm risk assessment, food safety plan writing, and GAP certification preparation; Certified lead trainer in Produce Safety Alliance curriculum for FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR).
	Laura Strawn Assistant Professor & Produce Safety Extension Specialist Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech Housed at ESAREC lstrawn@vt.edu	Virginia lead for the Southern Regional Center for FSMA Training; Lead trainer in both the FDA approved Produce Safety Alliance and Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance curriculums for the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule (PCR); FPFST lead for Translational Research efforts; provides expertise in farm to fork produce food safety including GAPS, HACCP, and sanitation.
	Thomas Archibald Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, Virginia Tech tgarch@vt.edu	Supports program planning and evaluation for all FPFS Team efforts to articulate the impacts of their work, as well as to foster evaluative thinking in their work. Key collaborator on many FPFST grant projects.
	Renee Boyer Professor & Extension Specialist Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech rrboyer@vt.edu	Provides leadership for the “Enhancing the safety of locally grown produce” curriculum used for small direct market produce farmers and farmers market managers. Performs research on fresh produce food safety issues. Certified trainer in Produce Safety Alliance curriculum for FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR).
	Joell Eifert Director Food Innovations Lab Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech joell.eifert@vt.edu	Provides assistance to food entrepreneurs in developing their food businesses and educating them in food safety, food preservation and processing, food regulation and food technology through the Food Innovation Program in the Department of Food Science at Virginia Tech. She is a recognized process authority and certified as a lead trainer for the FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCR). Certified trainer in Produce Safety Alliance curriculum for FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR).
	Joyce Latimer Professor & Greenhouse Extension Specialist School of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech jlatime@vt.edu	Provides overall support to FPFST efforts, especially through her role as the Horticulture Extension Project Leader. Supports greenhouse production and food safety training efforts. Coordinates website content for consumer outreach.
	Steve Rideout Associate Professor of Plant Pathology & Extension Specialist School of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Director of ESAREC srideout@vt.edu	Works in close collaboration with Dr. Strawn. Key member of the Delmarva Food Safety Task Force. Provides expertise in interactions between plant- and human pathogens, as well as on-farm food safety. Educates agents and growers in disease management. Knowledgeable in Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern agricultural practices.
	Rob Williams Associate Professor & Extension Food Microbiologist Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech rowilli3@vt.edu	Teaches GAPs, HACCP, and Preventive Controls for Human Foods courses. Researches the use of processes and antimicrobials to control foodborne disease bacteria in fruit and vegetable products. Certified lead trainer for FSMA PCR. Certified trainer in Produce Safety Alliance curriculum for FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR).

Related Links

FAQ On Farm Food Safety