HENDERSON, Colo. – Birko, a leading provider of food safety solutions for the produce industry, announced that Ian Bessell has joined the firm as Director of Business Development and Food Safety for Produce.
“We’re delighted to have Ian on board at Birko,” said Kelly Green, Birko’s owner and chairman of the board. “Ian’s extensive background in fruits and vegetables throughout the produce markets will be invaluable as Birko continues expanding its food safety expertise in the produce sector.”
Bessell was most recently the business development director – produce and seafood for ABC Research Laboratories, Gainesville, Fla. His background also includes positions with Zeigler Bros Feed as a sales specialist in pet, zoo and lab feeds, and as a research assistant with the University of Florida Food and Resource Economics Department. Bessell earned a master’s of agribusiness and a bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics, both from the University of Florida.
He is a current member of the Emerging Leaders Development Program, sponsored by the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. Bessell serves on a number of produce industry committees, including the United Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety and Technology Council and the Produce Marketing Association’s Produce Safety Science and Technology Committee. He also served on a Produce Safety Alliance Working Committee.
Bessell resides in Wellington, Fla.
About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the meat, produce and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated chemical formulations used in plant cleaning and sanitation, as well as antimicrobial interventions used to reduce pathogens from the manufacturing process of food. Birko’s equipment division, Chad Equipment, LLC, designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems and state-of-the-art washing systems as well as equipment used for food safety protection in meat and produce processing. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association. birkocorp.com
Source: Birko
