The Western Center for Food Safety (WCFS) is supported by a cooperative agreement to address the development of research approaches and data critical to high-priority public health issues addressing FDA-regulated fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. Such knowledge is essential to the development of scientifically validated “best practices” for mitigating those risks at the pre- and post-harvest production levels. WCFS scientists work collaboratively with other scientists in universities, industry and governmental agencies across different regions of the United States and internationally. WCFS research and outreach programs in partnership with FDA have played a pivotal role to inform policy related to the development of the proposed and final Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and the proposed and final Preventative Controls Rule under FSMA.

Examples of research projects supported through WCFS and leveraged funding: