IFPA expands food safety staff
The International Fresh Produce Association has added Gretchen Wall as director of food safety and quality and promoted Emily Griep to vice president of regulatory compliance and global food safety standards.
The moves are a part of IFPA’s commitment to serving as the industry’s source of support and advocacy in produce safety, according to a news release.
“The launch of IFPA gave us an opportunity to reflect on the current status and anticipate the future needs of the global produce supply chain,” Jennifer McEntire, chief food safety and regulatory officer, said in the release. “The industry continues to put tremendous resources toward produce safety, and as the industry association, our team will provide expanded resources to help IFPA members stay on top of new knowledge and requirements related to produce safety.”
International Fresh Produce Association is a resource on food safety issues for its membership, as well as regulatory partners, policy makers and members of the media within North America and other global markets, the release said.
“My doctoral work focused on food safety in global markets, and I am excited to use these experiences to support the breadth of the IFPA membership,” Griep said in the release. “Consumers everywhere deserve to eat safe produce, and I look forward to supporting globally harmonized, science-based, practical produce safety standards.”
Before taking on this role, Griep served as food safety manager for the United Fresh Produce Association, according to the release.
Internal Fresh Produce Association launched on Jan. 1, officially succeeding legacy organizations Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association. The new association will provide extensive training and professional development opportunities, the release said.
“I’ve spent the past 10 years helping growers understand and apply the regulations and practices that govern produce safety,” Wall, who joins IFPA from the Cornell University-based Produce Safety Alliance, said in the release. “My earlier experiences with cold chain and quality issues will allow me to give holistic support to members who often manage food safety and quality.”
For more information about the association, visit www.freshproduce.com.
