Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has announced that Dr. Jim Gorny will assume a new position of vice president of food safety and technology, starting on May 1, 2013. In his role, he will strengthen PMA’s initiatives to build member value in the areas of science and technology, including food safety research, biotechnology, agricultural innovations, process and packaging technology and environmental sustainability. In addition, Gorny will continue his long-standing role with the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California at Davis.

Gorny joins the team with Johnna Hepner, director of food safety, Ed Treacy, vice president of supply chain efficiencies, and will report to Chief Science and Technology Officer, Dr. Bob Whitaker. After an initial orientation phase at PMA’s headquarters in Newark, DE, Gorny will return to his home base in California.

Most recently, Gorny was senior advisor for the Office of Food Safety at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he advised staff on policies and programs affecting the safety of fresh produce. Prior to his role at FDA, Gorny was the executive director of the Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center at the University of California, Davis. He also served as senior vice president of food safety and technology for the United Fresh Produce Association/International Fresh-Cut Produce Association, which merged in 2006. He received his Ph. D in plant biology from the University of California at Davis and is an Editorial Advisory Board Member of Food Safety Magazine.