Wegmans Foundation, Numerous Producers Come Together To Fund Produce Safety Research

WOODLAND, Calif. – The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation, in addition to several other produce industry leaders, have recently added their names to the roll call for – and a combined $420,000 to the coffers of – the Center for Produce Safety's (CPS) Campaign for Produce Safety, CPS has announced. The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation is joined by (in alphabetical order) Amigo Farms, Inc., Coastline Family Farms, Inc., Diversified Restaurant Systems, Inc., National Watermelon Association, New York Apple Association, Inc., New York Apple Sales, Inc., Procacci Brothers Sales Corp. and Santa Rosa Produce, LLC.
 
The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation has committed $150,000 to the CPS campaign. The Foundation, a charity headquartered in Rochester, NY, was created by Robert Wegman in 1991 and is funded by assets from his estate.  Its areas of focus include healthcare and education.  

"We applaud the Campaign for Produce Safety's continuing approach to a better understanding of food safety challenges," says Danny Wegman, President and Chairman of the Board of the Foundation.  "They have been able to fast track important food safety research and deliver the results to those who need the information.  We are drawn to the efficiency and practicality of the projects that CPS supports."

The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation and a growing list of buy-side companies, including (in alphabetical order) Diversified Restaurant Systems, Inc., Giant Eagle, Inc., H-E-B, Loblaw Companies Limited, Markon Cooperative, Inc., Sysco, and Target Corporation, are supporting CPS's research campaign.
 
Amigo Farms of Yuma, Ariz., farms around 7,000 acres, including melons and leafy greens. "As a produce grower, we frequently apply the practical food safety solutions being generated through Center for Produce Safety research on our farm," said Amigo Farms President Bruce Williams. "We are aligned with our fellow industry members in support of the Campaign for Produce Safety and are pleased to make this contribution on behalf of our families, friends, community and all customers that entrust us with their food supply."

Santa Rosa Produce grows cantaloupes and other melons in Arizona; the company is headquartered in Maricopa. Owners Larry and Cindi Pearson farm more than 8,000 acres. "At Santa Rosa Produce, nothing is more important to us then the safety and quality of our produce. Our management and employees are dedicated to continuously improving our food safety programs through training and research. CPS plays a vital industry role on research, so we felt it was important to do our part to make sure that work continues," said owners Larry and Cindi Pearson.

"Apples are the icon of health and a fixture on the menu for all ages of consumers, we are making this leadership contribution because our growers know that safeguarding their future depends on safeguarding that consumer trust," said NYAA President Jim Allen. New York Apple Association, Inc. (NYAA) represents more than 600 commercial apple growers in the U.S.'s second-largest apple producing state.

The Campaign for Produce Safety is seeking to raise $20 million over the next five years to fund critically needed, actionable produce safety research. Since it was founded in 2007, the Center for Produce Safety has provided $18.4 million to fund produce-specific safety research. The Campaign for Produce Safety aims to expand this vital work to close knowledge gaps with science-based research that enhances produce safety in the United States and worldwide.

The following companies and organizations have contributed to the Campaign for Produce Safety as of March 7, 2016.To contribute and join these industry leaders, contact Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, CPS executive director, by telephone at 530-554-9706 or by email at bonnie@centerforproducesafety.org.

Companies and organizations noted with asterisks have given not only to the Campaign for Produce Safety, but also to past CPS fundraising efforts:

 
Contribution of $1,000,000+
Produce Marketing Association *                       
Taylor Farms *           
Western Growers                     
                                                              
Contribution of $500,000 – $999,999
Washington State Tree Fruit Association
California Fresh Fruit Association
Dole           
Fresh Express, Incorporated
 
Contribution of $250,000 – $499,999
Agricola El Toro
California Melon Research Board * / California Cantaloupe Advisory Board *
Georgia Pacific *
Sysco
Tanimura & Antle *           
The Wonderful Company
                                                                                 
Contribution of $100,000 – $249,999
GreenGate Fresh                                               
JV Smith Companies *                                               
Lipman Produce
Pacific International Marketing
Target Corporation
Wegman Family Charitable Foundation *
Western Precooling Systems                       
Bolthouse Farms
Church Brothers / True Leaf Farms                       
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
International Paper *                                   
Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce
Castellini Group of Companies *
Driscoll's *
Florida Tomato Committee *
Freshway Foods
Markon Cooperative, Inc. *
McEntire Produce, Inc.
Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. *
The Oppenheimer Group
organicgirl
Ready Pac Foods, Inc.

Contribution up to $99,999
Sunview Marketing International *
New York Apple Association
Amigo Farms
H-E-B *
Coastline Family Farms, Inc.
Martori Farms
Mission Produce, Inc.
National Watermelon Association
Santa Rosa Produce
Tree Top, Inc.
Loblaw Companies Limited
California Pear Advisory Board
California Tomato Farmers
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Giant Eagle, Inc.
Monsanto Company *           
Pasquinelli Produce Company
Procacci Brothers Sales Corp.
Diversified Restaurant Systems, Inc.
New York Apple Sales, Inc.
Rice Fruit Company
California Pepper Commission
 
CPS, a non-profit foundation, is focused exclusively on providing the produce industry and government with open access to science-based information needed to continually enhance produce safety.
 
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About CPS
The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) is focused exclusively on providing the produce industry and government with open access to the actionable information needed to continually enhance the safety of produce. Established by public and private partnership at the University of California, Davis, initial funding for CPS was provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the University of California, Produce Marketing Association and Taylor Farms. Ongoing administrative costs are covered by the Produce Marketing Association, enabling industry and public funds to go exclusively to research.    

Source: The Center for Produce Safety (CPS)