Center for Produce Safety executive director steps down

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 director will be forthcoming, but for now, he wants to honor and thank Fernandez-Fenaroli. 

“Over the next several months, we will take time to recognize her many contributions to this organization and the industry. Bonnie has been the backbone of CPS for nearly two decades,” Pezzini said. “All of the rest of us have our day jobs while we’re volunteering with CPS, but her sole focus has been on this vital work to enhance produce safety.”

Pezzini said Fernandez-Fenaroli’s success has been largely in part due to the respect she commands in the industry and among governmental entities.

“Her most powerful skills are her diplomacy and connecting the right folks to each other at the right time to accomplish big tasks,” Pezzini said.

“Bonnie has led the effort to make food safety research something relevant with critical importance, thus having a profound effect on the nation’s food supply. Without her leading the charge, I truly believe the industry would be much farther behind in the safety of its products and possibly subject to countless more recalls and outbreaks. CPS has raised the bar on produce safety knowledge.”

About Center for Produce Safety
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Produce Safety (CPS) focuses exclusively on funding science, finding solutions and fueling change in fresh produce food safety. The center is a unique partnership, bringing together leaders from industry, government, and the scientific and academic communities. CPS funds credible, independent research worldwide, then transfers that knowledge and tools to industry and other stakeholders through an annual Research Symposium, its website, webinars, trade press guest columns and other outreach. Since it was founded in 2007, Center for Produce Safety has invested more than $46 million to fund produce-specific safety research. For more information, visit www.centerforproducesafety.org.