Center for Produce Safety announces $20,000,000 campaign for produce safety

Since its inception in 2007, the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) has provided $16.4 million to fund produce safety research. To expand this work, the center announced the Campaign for Produce Safety,” a fundraising initiative designed to secure $20 million in funding over the next five years.

Initial contributions to the campaign already total $4,720,000, demonstrating a strong conviction that food safety is a shared responsibility of the entire produce supply chain, from growers to shippers to retailers.

Taylor Farms and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) have contributed $1 million each to the Campaign for Produce Safety. In addition to its contribution, PMA has also continued to cover ongoing administrative costs for CPS, enabling industry and public funds to go exclusively to research.

“PMA has been a major supporter of CPS since day one because of what it stands for: a partnership committed to finding science-based answers to food safety issues facing the fresh produce industry,” said Bryan Silbermann, PMA chief executive officer. “There is no more vital issue facing our membership, no more important way to address concerns held by consumers than doing everything in our power to find solutions and then implement them.”

The following is the list of Campaign for Produce Safety contributors as of Sept. 21, 2015.

Contribution of $1,000,000+

Produce Marketing Association *

Taylor Farms *

Contribution of $500,000 – $999,999

Dole

Contribution of $250,000 – $499,999

California Melon Research Board * / California Cantaloupe Advisory Board *

Georgia Pacific *

Tanimura & Antle *

Contribution of $100,000 – $249,999

GreenGate Fresh

JV Smith Companies *

Lipman Produce

Pacific International Marketing

Western Precooling Systems

Church Brothers / True Leaf Farms

International Paper *

California Fresh Fruit Association

Driscoll’s *

Florida Tomato Committee *

McEntire Produce, Inc.

Contribution up to $99,999

Monsanto Company *

Sunview Marketing International *

Please note that companies and organizations distinguished by an asterisk have given not only to the CPS Campaign for Produce Safety, but also to past CPS fundraising efforts.

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