2022 Food Safety Conference

woman looking through microscope

2022 Food Safety Conference

Thank you to all of our speakers, sponsors, and attendees!  If you missed any of the presentations or would like to view them again view the recordings at the links below.

October 26, 2022
Virtual

Dr. Subash Shrestha – Cargill

Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
Watch Presentation

Dr. Craig Parker – USDA, ARS

Straight Out of California: Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis PT30 Associated with Raw Almonds
Watch Presentation

Brad Clawson – Casa Grande Dairy Products, Lactalis

Yogurt Production in Casa Grande, Arizona
Watch Presentation

Chaz Shelton – Merchants Garden
Angie Stevenson – KETOS

Real-Time Water Quality Analysis for Urban Farming
Watch Presentation

Dr. Ayman Mostafa – Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

A New Urban Agriculture Production Program in Arizona
Watch Presentation

October 27, 2022
In-person

Congratulations to our Student Poster Presenters

Student poster presenters competed for cash awards totaling $1,700 including:

  • Three $500 top presenter awards which were awarded to:
    • Janell Kartoz

    • Richard Park

    • Miely Suarez

  • The Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) sponsored award ($100):
    • Kirat Khushwinder Bains

  • The Dr. Dan Engeljohn Crowd Favorite Award which includes a $100 award:
    • Kirat Khushwinder Bains

View poster abstracts below below.

Congratulations to our Staff Poster Presenters

Staff poster presenters competed for a travel/research award totaling $500:

  • One $500 top presenter award which were awarded to:
    • Dr. Bibiana Law

View poster abstracts below below.

Thank you to Our Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

  • JV Smith Food Safety Endowment
  • ALVSCE Research, The University of Arizona
  • School of Nutritional Science and Wellness, The University of Arizona
  • Yuma Safe Produce Council

Gold Sponsors

  • School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona
  • Cooperative Extension, The University of Arizona
  • CALS Academic and Career Services, The University of Arizona
  • Western Growers Association
  • BioSafe Systems
  • Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association
  • Duncan Family Farms

Silver Sponsors

  • Aquaculture Pathology Lab, The University of Arizona
  • Scott Resources
  • The Barkley Company of Arizona

General/Student Award Sponsors

  • YCEDA, The University of Arizona
  • Phoenix Biometrics

Wed Oct 26 Virtual
1:00 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Sadhana Ravishankar - Food Safety Consortium Chair and Professor - The University of Arizona

1:20 pm

Keynote

Controlling Listeria moncytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

Subash Shrestha - Food Safety Lead and Process Authority - Cargill

2:00 pm

Straight Out of California: Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis PT30 Associated with Raw Almonds

Craig Parker - Lead Scientist, Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit - USDA, Agricultural Research Service

2:30 pm

Yogurt Production in Casa Grande, Arizona

Brad Clawson - Plant Manager, Casa Grande Dairy Products

3:00 pm Break
3:15 pm

Real-Time Water Quality Analysis for Urban Farming

Chaz Shelton - Founder and CEO - Merchant's Garden
Angie Stevenson - Head of Agriculture and Food Production Sales - KETOS

3:45 pm

A New Urban Agriculture Production Program in Arizona

Ayman Mostafa - Interim Director, Maricopa County - UArizona Cooperative Extension

4:15 pm

Irrigation Water Safety and Quality Panel Discussion

  • Jerry Lopez (Moderator) - School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences - The University of Arizona
  • Channah Rock - Department of Environmental Science - The University of Arizona
  • Walter Betancourt - Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center
  • Chuck Gerba - Department of Environmental Science - The University of Arizona
  • Kelly Bright - Department of Environmental Science - The University of Arizona
  • Paul Mondragon - Ag Partners Southwest
4:50 pm Conference Wrap-Up
5:00 pm Adjourn
Thurs Oct 27 In-Person - Double Tree, ReID Park
2:30 pm Welcome and Conference Dedication Plaque Presentation
2:50 pm Networking and Student/Staff Poster Sessions with light refreshments
4:30 pm Poster Session Award Presentation
4:50 pm Conference Wrap-Up
5:00 pm Adjourn

UArizona Student and Staff Poster Session

Student Poster Entries (listed in alphabetical order)

Kirat Khushwinder Bains

Title: Attachment Strength of Salmonella enterica serovar Newport and Listeria monocytogenes on Melon Hybrids from Five Growing Regions in the United States
Authors: David Rowlands, Kristina Raygoza, Kirat Bains, Paul Brierley, Martin Porchas, Bhimu Patil, Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Cesily Cirerol

Title: Understanding the prevalence and transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the South-East Coast Region of the United States 
Authors: Cesily Cirerol, Dominic Rodriguez, Miely Suarez, Janell Kartoz, Khai Truong, Elissa Arvizu, Maria Acosta-Perez, Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

Hannah Crean

Title: Decrease in Sanitizer Efficacy of Peracetic Acid (PAA) and Sodium Hypochlorite in the Presence of Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers Used on Leafy Greens
Authors: Zoe Scott, Jessica Dery, Natalie Brassill, Hannah Crean, Channah Rock

Abstract

Janell Kartoz

Title: Prevalence Studies in the Western United States for Epidemiological Investigation of Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
Authors: Janell Kartoz, Cesily Cirerol, Dominic Rodriguez, Maria Acosta-Perez, Miely Suarez, Khai Truong, Elissa Arvisu, Liz Moreno, Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

Richard Park

Title: Efficacy of Ozone Against Salmonella Newport and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Non-Traditional Sources of Irrigation Water at Room Temperature and 4°C   
Authors: Richard Park, Libin Zhu, Govindaraj Dev Kumar, Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

Miely Suarez

Title: Analyzing the prevalence and transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the Southwestern United States and Mexico
Authors: Miely Suarez, Cesily Cirerol, Dominic Rodriguez, Khai Truong, Maria Acosta-Perez, Janell Kartoz, Elissa Arvisu, Gerardo U. Lopez

Abstract

 

Staff Poster Entries (listed in alphabetical order)

Natalie Brassill

Title: Evidence of Microbial Transfer from Furrow Water to Leafy Greens during Irrigation
Authors: Natalie Brassill, Jessica Dery, Ban Saber, Channah Rock

Abstract

Justin Clark

Title: Survival of Escherichia coli in Sediments in Artificial Irrigation Canals
Authors: Justin Clark, Gary Guislie, Valery Gonzalez, Priscilla Valenzuela, Andrew Rabe, Madison Goforth, Kelly Bright, Jennifer Duan, and Charles P. Gerba

Abstract

Bibiana Law

Title: Plant-based Microemulsions Inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas fluorescens on Iceberg Lettuce and Improve Visual Quality During 28-day storage
Authors: Stephanie Arellano, Bibiana Law, Sadhana Ravishankar

Abstract

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