Sonia Salas

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Sonia Salas joined Western Growers in October 2007 and currently serves as Associate Vice President of Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs. In this role, she leads the identification, development, and advancement of scientific, technical, and compliance-based food safety strategies that support Western Growers members and the broader fresh produce industry. Her work spans commodity standards, guidance and policy development, audit strategies, and industry outreach, education, and training.

Sonia also manages strategic partnerships with federal and state agencies, universities, and agricultural coalitions to strengthen collaboration and promote practical, science-based solutions. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the food industry, with deep expertise in fresh produce safety. Before joining Western Growers, Sonia worked in the private sector, managing food safety and quality systems and implementing federal and state regulatory requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Zamorano University (Honduras) and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Joelle Mosso is an entrepreneurial scientist with a passion for pathogenic food microbiology, risk assessment, and working towards practical solutions for the food industry. Joelle currently is Western Growers Assoc. VP of Science Programs, working alongside growers to develop improved approaches to food safety and sustainability challenges. She has a background in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA), building microbial testing laboratories, evaluating and designing microbial diagnostic tools/approaches, and firsthand produce experience, managing food safety for complex international supply chains. Before Western Growers, she was Sr. Director of Technical & Regulatory Affairs for the Organic Trade Association (OTA), was the chief scientific officer for the Eurofins Produce, and held food safety and business leadership roles at Earthbound Farm and Olam Spice & Vegetable Ingredients. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Microbiology with honors in Molecular Biology and a M.S. in Food Science focused on pathogenic food microbiology from the University of California, Davis. Joelle has served on numerous industry technical groups including the Center for Produce Safety Technical Committee, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Food Safety Council, USDA National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), and the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). 

John Gurrisi is Vice President of Food Safety & Quality at Fresh Express Incorporated, a leading manufacturer and innovator of value-added fresh produce products. John has broad food safety responsibility for growing, harvesting, manufacturing, supplier management, and regulatory compliance. He leads a multi-disciplinary food safety and quality team covering the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

John holds several industry-critical food safety certifications and has contributed his technical expertise to wide-ranging industry initiatives. Among these, John currently serves as an active contributor to the Center for Produce Safety’s Technical Committee and the International Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety Council. Prior to joining Fresh Express, John led global fresh produce food safety and quality initiatives for Darden Restaurants Inc.

Trevor Suslow, Ph.D.

Trevor Suslow, Ph.D. formed Trevor Suslow Consulting, LLC in 2021 and holds an Emeritus faculty position at UC Davis with an emphasis on preharvest to postharvest quality and safety of fresh consumed specialty crops. Trevor still devotes substantial time to Extension service and effort across the U.S. and internationally. His former full-time position at UCD included statewide responsibilities in quality and safety on diverse whole fresh and minimally processed horticultural foods from annual row crops to tree and vine commodities. Before his tenure at UCD, Trevor held a Senior Director of R&D position at DNA Plant Technology, Inc. in Berkeley, CA for 15+ years He served in a technical committee role at the Center for Produce Safety Technical Committee from its creation in 2008. He transitioned to a CPS technical advisory role to the CPS Executive Director in 2021. Trevor received the United Fresh Produce Association Technical Award in 2012 and received The Packer 25 Profiles in Leadership Award in 2014. He was named to the Food Safety News list of The Best of Food Safety in Education and honored with the National Steinbeck Center’s Valley of the World Award in Education in 2017. Trevor served as Faculty Director for the UC Postharvest Technology Center from 2016 to October 2018. Dr. Suslow was recognized by the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) with the 2018 Elmer Marth Educator Award and in 2019 the IAFP President’s Award. Most recently, he was selected as one of AFDO's The Food Safety Set: 16 People Who Have Shaped the Last 30 Years of Food Safety.

Pam Young brings an uncommon, practical voice to conversations about food safety, transportation, and accountability across the supply chain. Raised in a fresh produce family, Pam grew up immersed in the real-world pressures of moving food safely—long before it became the regulatory focus it is today. 

Her career path—spanning law, education, and food safety operations—has given her a unique ability to translate complex compliance requirements into clear, human-centered action. After earning her law degree and becoming a member of the California State Bar, Pam spent over a decade in the classroom, where she learned firsthand that structure, clarity, and accountability are what move people forward—whether they’re students, drivers, or operations teams. 

Today, Pam is the co-founder of Healthy Trailer LLC and the creator of FSMA Transportation Compliance Plans requested by shippers, carriers, and receivers nationwide. Her work focuses on one simple truth: food safety failures often come from a lack of application of proven food safety science and protocols—and wrong assumptions. 

Pam speaks to the moment where responsibility is often ignored, questions go unasked, and risk quietly enters the supply chain. 

Her message is simple but uncomfortable: ignoring risk doesn’t make it go away. And in food transportation, it only takes one overlooked detail to change everything.