CASHMERE, Wash. (June 28, 2010) — Ozgur Koc director of research and development for Crunch Pak®, was named one of Produce Business magazine’s 40 Under Forty.
The sixth annual award recognizes young leaders who excel in community involvement and other company and produce industry accomplishments.
As director of research and development, Koc has a hand in many behind-the-scenes technological advances for fresh-cut apples.
He implemented a food safety and quality program from farm-to-table, for example, and executed a cooperative research and development agreement with the USDA. He also works on packaging innovation and helped design Crunch Pak’s line with Disney.
Koc is also the coordinator and moderator for United Fresh Produce Association’s Fresh Cut Apple Work Group that brings suppliers, sliced apple processors, government, and university representatives together to participate in food safety and quality discussions relevant to the sliced apple industry.
Koc came to the United States in December 1999 to take English as a second language classes as a graduate of food engineering from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey.
While here, he earned a master’s degree in engineering and technology management at Portland State University and then joined Crunch Pak in 2002.
America’s demand for nutritious, convenient, and grab-and-go healthy foods inspires Koc.
“The industry is so new and there are multiple opportunities to apply my theoretical knowledge to real life issues,” Koc said. “I’m challenged daily to improve food safety and the quality of fresh cut products.”
John Graden, company general manager, said Koc is an integral part of the Crunch Pak team.
“Ozgur started as we moved into a new plant in 2002; he has always tackled whatever is thrown at him — be it large or small—and has a real passion for this industry,” Graden said. “He is able to explain the process as to why we slice an apple in 12 pieces rather than 14 or 16. There are many technical reasons, but years later, people remember his explanation. That's passion, that's commitment.”
Source: Crunch Pak
