Media Relations Office

Elizabeth Demmings, a food safety expert with the Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University, offers the following guidance for preparing holiday foods safely.  

Food & Agriculture

Agriculture and Life Sciences

---

Andrew Novaković says given the broad spectrum of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and responsibilities, Tom Vilsack’s previous experience and intimate knowledge of USDA will allow him to hit the ground running.

Food & Agriculture

Law, Government & Public Policy

---

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have not been able to visit family and friends as they normally do, so this holiday season sending traditional homemade specialties and foods can be especially meaningful. Robert Gravani, emeritus professor of food science and a food safety expert, says in order to assure food arrives in good condition and is safe to consume, it’s important to avoid perishable and fragile foods, to properly package items and to ship early to avoid delays.

Food & Agriculture

Agriculture and Life Sciences

---

Stephen Reiners, professor of horticulture at Cornell University and a New York state vegetable industry expert, says summer conditions were perfect for growing pumpkins and pickers can expect some of the most vibrant colors in this year’s crop.

Food & Agriculture

New York State

---

The Glass Fire has already burned over 55,500 acres and hot, dry, windy conditions threaten additional fire danger to California's Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Cheryl Stanley an expert in food and beverage operations, specifically the wine industry, says the California fires will have known and unknown financial impacts for regional wineries for years to come.

Economics and Business

Food & Agriculture

---

Restaurants in New York City and other city centers around the country are making plans to reopen for reduced-capacity indoor dining. Lilly Jan, senior lecturer of food and beverage management at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell, says that restaurant operators should find creative ways to resume indoor dining while considering maintaining viable options for outdoor dining as well.

Food & Agriculture

School of Hotel Administration

---

Grocery stores and food retailers are stockpiling products to prepare for another widespread outbreak of COVID-19 cases amidst the already busy holiday season rush. Edward McLaughlin, professor of food industry management and an expert in the efficiency of food distribution systems says food companies, anticipating another potential wave of COVID-19, are putting previous demand buying models aside and are now sending staple goods to grocery stores, even without an order.

Food & Agriculture

Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

Economics and Business

---

As the historic West Coast wildfires continue, the risk of smoke taint in vineyards across the region is rising. Gavin Sacks, a Cornell University professor of food science and an expert in enology and viticulture, says a surge capacity system will likely be needed for testing grapes or wines for smoke taint during difficult wildfire years.

Food & Agriculture

---

A study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday examines E. coli outbreaks linked to leafy greens in the United States and Canada from 2009 to 2018. Professors of food safety at Cornell University, Martin Wiedmann and Randy Worobo, who were not involved with the study, are available for interviews on the report.

Food & Agriculture

---

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Agricultural economist Andrew Novakovic says while it’s helpful the CFAP will provide assistance for farmers, massive demand destruction still remains as an underlying problem.

Food & Agriculture

Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

Agriculture and Life Sciences

---