Earlier this week, it was announced that James Gorny, Ph.D. will be leaving his position as Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA’s) vice president of food safety and technology. He will now assume the newly created role of senior science advisor for produce safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this capacity, Gorny will develop and coordinate implementation strategies for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
“My job is going to be about building bridges,” says Gorny. “Between the states and the FDA, for example, because of the huge role states have in inspecting farms. But also between all parts of the supply chain and the FDA because not only do we have to make sure everyone knows what they need to do, we also have to make sure we arrive at ways of doing those things that are as practical as possible. I’ve heard loud and clear in my role at PMA that produce businesses have a strong desire to get FSMA implementation right.”