Effective mid-2025, Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli will step down from her position as executive director of the Center for Produce Safety. Fernandez-Fenaroli has led the organization for 16 years. During her tenure, the center has invested more than $46 million to fund produce food safety research.
The research has been used by industry and governmental agencies to develop food safety practices. “The CPS mission is to fund research, find solutions, and fuel change in fresh produce food safety,” Fernandez-Fenaroli said. “For me, the underlying strength that makes that possible is the world-class group of volunteers who have offered their time and expertise to make CPS the success it is today.
I will miss working with these amazing people. They are the reason I know CPS will continue to advance its all-important work.” Fernandez-Fenaroli sees the next five years as particularly exciting for CPS.
“I look forward to seeing how the board, the Technical Committee, and the new executive director accelerate the work of CPS,” she said. “I’m not much for looking in the rearview mirror, but when I do look back at how much CPS has accomplished since 2008, I’m beyond confident that the future will bring more ground-breaking research and practical solutions that will fuel the change needed to enhance produce safety even further.” CPS Board Chair Joe Pezzini, senior director of agricultural operations at Taylor Farms, said details about the search for a new executive directo.