a7f4191539f315b3ff4bdf65f853a031.jpeProduce Marketing Association has hired Dr. Jim Gorny to fill the new position of vice president of food safety and technology. The new position will strengthen PMA’s work in such areas as food safety research, biotechnology, agricultural innovations, and process and packaging technology.

Prior to joining PMA, Gorny was senior advisor for the Office of Food Safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration where he advised staff on policies and programs affecting the safety of fresh produce. He was involved in the development of FDA’s proposed rules now going through public comment that provide detail to the new Food Safety Modernization Act. Before that, 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.

Although PMA is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gorny will be based in California and will work closely with the Center for Produce Safety at UC, Davis. PMA, a strong supporter of the center, contributed $3 million over the last six years, and PMA’s Dr. Bob Whitaker, chief science and technology officer, has chaired the center’s technical committee. Gorny will report to Whitaker.

Gorny begins his new job on May 1.