PMA’s Bob Whitaker wins Food Safety Leadership Award

NSF International announced the winners of the 2015 NSF Food Safety Leadership Awards during the 2015 Food Safety Summit at the Baltimore Convention Center on April 30.

Bob Whitaker, chief scientific officer at Produce Marketing Association (PMA), received one of two 2015 NSF Food Safety Leadership Awards for Training and Education.

Each year, an independent panel of food safety experts from academia, industry and the regulatory community reviews nominations from around the world to select the recipients. Nominations are evaluated on the basis of innovation, design and contribution to the advancement of food safety.

According to a release from NSF International, Whitaker is an advocate for advancing the fresh produce industry’s food safety knowledge, who for the last 25 years has worked side by side with members of the global produce industry to overcome food safety challenges. He takes technical food safety information and research findings and translates them into easy-to-understand education that industry can readily apply to its day-to-day operations.

Whitaker has been instrumental in the development and success of the Center for Produce Safety’s (CPS) research program. Under his supervision, the CPS has become a respected resource for the fresh produce industry and has funded 85 research projects since 2008. He created and leads PMA’s Science and Technology Committee, an industry group that provides strategic guidance to PMA’s Board of Directors on food safety education and policy.

“Bob has always been a steady source of reason for the produce industry during uncertain times. He has a unique ability for translating complex scientific concepts into practical and useful everyday practices,” Joe Pezzini, chief operating officer at Ocean Mist Farms. “He has been a driver and leader for the betterment of the produce industry and his impact will long benefit farmers and consumers.”

For more information, visit NSF International’s website.