The Controlled Environment Agriculture Food Safety Coalition (CEA FSC) announced in a press release that it has retained The Stenzel Group to "provide management
services, with the appointment of former United Fresh Produce Association
President & CEO Tom Stenzel as its new Executive Director."
The CEA FSC, the release states, "was formed in 2019 to serve as a forum for leafy greens growers
in high-tech greenhouses and indoor vertical farms to educate and share best
practices with regulators, customers, and fellow indoor growers."
Stenzel will now work with the board to "develop strategic and business plans
to take the coalition to the next level in serving the controlled environment
agriculture sector in the produce industry."
“Tom’s almost 30 years’ experience leading United Fresh and the recent
combination with the Produce Marketing Association to form the International
Fresh Produce Association makes him an outstanding leader to help us evolve our
mission beyond just food safety and leafy greens to serve the broader
controlled environment agriculture category,” said Marc Oshima, co-founder of
AeroFarms and Board Chair of the CEA FSC.
“I’ve worked with many of these companies since their start-up,” Stenzel
said. “I’ve seen their potential, and am now watching their impact grow
daily, as consumers and retailers alike embrace their role as high-quality,
sustainable, safe, and local producers. I’m excited to help this sector
expand its impact.”
Stenzel succeeds Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, former USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety who recently resigned as CEA FSC Executive Director.
“Elisabeth
did a great job building on our core food safety platform and has set the stage
for more expansive growth to service the broader controlled environment
agriculture industry, and we will miss her leadership and expertise,” Oshima
said, per the release.