Our Mission & Vision

Mission Statement: Our mission is to develop and deliver state-of-the-art, science-based methods that improve the post-harvest processing, preservation, quality, marketing and consumption of safe and nutritious foods. This effort extends to the development of value-added food and feed. A top priority is ensuring the productivity and end-user quality of specific crops, notably cucumber, peanut, sweetpotato, pepper and cabbage. Towards that end, we conduct research on the latest in fermentation procedures, microbiome analyses, product chemistry and safety, as well as nutritional and performance analyses. Throughout, we strive to ensure our research and outreach efforts are responsive to the high-priority needs of a diverse cadre of stakeholders—from farmers, food and allied industries, to regulatory agencies and consumers.

Our Vision: To leverage robust, systems-based scientific research and technologies that enhance the production, processing, safety, nutrition, and availability of plant-based foods, reduce waste, promote human health and well-being in support of the United States agriculture.