In an atmosphere where researchers rather conduct run of the mill projects in order to secure continued federal grants, the need for research on fresh produce safety has been ignored. This is the message that United Fresh Senior Vice President of Food Safety & Technology, Dr. David Gombas, brought to USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) when he presented a list of research priorities to this USDA panel last week. The goal of his presentation being to encourage more researcher grants to be geared toward produce specific food safety research. The research priorities presented by Dr. Gombas were developed at the first ever International Lettuce and Leafy Greens Food Safety Research Conference,which was organized by United Fresh, September 2007. In an article published this week by Agri-Pulse Communications, Dr. Gombas, highlighted the steps made by the leafy greens industry since last year’s “spinach crisis,” specifically the developments of new food safety standards, metrics and compliance programs. He did state; however, that despite being based on the best available experience and judgment, “the science to provide a definitive basis for these standards and programs is insufficient.” Dr. Gombas is optimistic the efforts initiated by the industry will transform into the government administered grants for produce-specific food safety research. For more information, contact Dr. Gombas, 202-303-3411.