Birko's Dr. Elis Owens & Ian Bessell Named To PMA Science & Technology Committee

HENDERSON, Colo. —  Birko, a leader in providing food safety solutions to the produce industry, announced that Dr. Elis Owens and Ian Bessell have been named to the PMA Science and Technology Committee.

Owens and Bessell will rotate onto the committee Oct. 16, 2014, during the PMA Fresh Summit Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

“Elis and Ian will make a strong contribution to this important PMA committee,” said Kelly Green, Birko’s third-generation owner and chairman of the board. “They each have in-depth knowledge of the challenges produce processors face and they’ll provide an important perspective.”

Owens is Birko’s senior chemist / microbiologist and active in developing Birko’s antimicrobial product line and attendant delivery systems. He has been a presenter at PMA Fresh Summit. Owens earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wales in Cardiff, and conducted post-doctoral research at Michigan State University’s Center for Microbial Ecology. He has published papers in FEMS Microbiology Ecology and FEMS Microbiology Letters.

Bessell is Birko’s director of business development and food safety for produce. He also serves on United Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety and Technology Council. He is HACCP certified and a graduate of the Emerging Leaders Development Program, sponsored by the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. Bessell is a part-time instructor for Northeastern University in the graduate program in regulatory affairs of food and food industries. He earned a master’s of agribusiness and a bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics, both from the University of Florida.

About the PMA Science and Technology Committee

The Produce Marketing Association Science and Technology Committee identifies critical industry issues in science and technology, determines how they impact the produce supply chain domestically and globally and works with PMA staff to develop strategies to address those issues.

About Birko

Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the produce, meat 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. Birko is a Produce Marketing Association Gold Circle Contributor and a member of United Fresh Produce Association. Founded in 1953, Birko is ISO 9001 certified. It is also a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

Source: Birko