Juan R. Anciso – Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Department of Horticulture Sciences 2401 East Highway 83 Weslaco, TX 78596 Phone: 956.968.5581  Fax: 956.969.5639 Email: j-anciso@tamu.edu Website: http://southtexas.tamu.edu/programs-and-services/horticulture

Since 2002, Dr. Anciso has been the Extension Vegetable Specialist for the 21 county area of District 12 which stretches from Brownsville to Eagle Pass. He had coordinated the IPM program for citrus and vegetable pests as the IPM Agent for Hidalgo and Cameron counties from the Hidalgo County Extension office from 1989 thru 2002.  Dr. Anciso’s area of research and extension education is vegetable pest management, vegetable production and food safety on the farm known as Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). He has written several scientific and popular articles on vegetable pest management and food safety on the farm. He is a lead trainer for the Produce Safety Alliance which provides the grower trainings required by the Produce Safety Rule. He also represents Texas on the National Good Agricultural Practices committee and United Fresh’s GAPs Harmonization effort that addresses GAPs food safety in produce.

Education

Doctorate, Plant Pathology Texas A&M University ’89
Master of Agriculture, Plant Protection Texas A&M University ’84
Bachelor of Science, Biology Texas A&M University ’83

Employment History

Extension Vegetable Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Service 2002 – present
Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management Texas Agricultural Extension Service 1989-2002
Teaching Assistant Texas A&M University 1986-1989

Professional Affiliations

• American Society of Horticultural Science
• Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society
  
• Texas Vegetable Association
  
• South Texas Onion Committee
  

Selected Publications on On-Farm Food Safety (GAPs)

• Schneider, K. R., M. Schroeder, A. Gutierrez, K. Kharel, R G Schneider, A. Harder, A. P. Perez, K. Woods, L. L. Dunn, P. Priyesh, C. Gunter, E. Rogers, C. Simmons, L. Johnston, C. Carter, T. M. Taylor, A. Castillo, J. Anciso, J. Masabni, L. K. Strawn, A. Vallotton, K. Stull, T. O’Bannon, M. D. Danyluk. 2024. Southern Region Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training: Using Pre- and Post- Training Knowledge Assessments to Understand Training Effectiveness.  J. Food Prot. 87(5): 100266.
• Usaga, J., A. Beauvais, A.K Englishbey, C. Marchesan Marconi, U. Cholula, A. M Belias, M. Wemette, J. J. Churey, R.W. Worobo, J. Enciso, J. R. Anciso, K. Nightingale and R. Ivanek. 2022. Salmonella and E. coli inactivation in surface irrigation water using a commercial UV processing unit. Food Protection Trends. 42 (5): 377-382. (cover article for September/October 2022).
• Beauvais, W., A.K. Englishbey, C.K. Marconi, U. Cholula, A.M. Belias, M. Wemette, J. Usaga, J. J. Churey, R.W. Worobo, J. Enciso, J.R. Anciso, K. Nightingale, and R. Ivanek. 2021. The effectiveness of treating irrigation water using ultraviolet radiation or sulphuric acid fertilizer for reducing generic Escherichia coli on fresh produce—a controlled intervention trial.  J. Appl. Microbiol., Open Access Journal doi:10.1111/jam15011.
• Park, S.S., S. Navratil, A. Gregory, A. Bauer, I. Srinath, B. Szonyi, K. Nightingale, J. Anciso, M. Jun, D. Han, S. Lawhon and R. Ivanek. 2015. Multifactorial effects of ambient temperature, precipitation, farm management, and environmental factors determine the level of generic Escherichia coli contamination on pre-harvested spinach.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 81(7): 2635-2650.
• Park, S.S., S. Navratil, A. Gregory, A. Bauer, I. Srinath, B. Szonyi, K. Nightingale, J. Anciso, M. Jun, D. Han, S. Lawhon and R. Ivanek. 2014. Farm management, environment and weather factors jointly affect the probability of spinach contamination with generic Escherichia coli at the preharvest level. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 80(8): 2504-2515. (cover and spotlight article for April 2014).
• Ribera, L.A., M. Palma, M. Paggi, R. Knutson, J. Anciso, and J. Masabni. 2013. Costs of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks for Vegetable Producers. Extension publication EHT-027.
• Park, S. S., S. Navratil, A. Gregory, A. Bauer, I. Srinath, M. Jun, B. Szonyi, K. Nightingale, J. Anciso and R. Ivanek. 2013. Generic Escherichia coli contamination of spinach at the preharvest level: The role of farm management and environmental factors. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 79(14): 4347-4358.
• Park, S. S., B. Szonyi, R. Gautam, K. Nightingale, J. Anciso and R. Ivanek. 2012. Risk factors for microbial contamination in fruits and vegetables at the pre-harvest level: A systematic review. J. Food Prot. 75(11): 2055-2081
• Ribera, L.A., M. Palma, M. Paggi, R. Knutson, J. Masabni, and J. Anciso. 2012.  Economic Analysis of Food Safety Compliance Costs and Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in the United States.  HortTechnology 22(2): 150-156.
• J. R. Anciso. et al. 2010.  “Texas GAPs and GHPs Food Safety Training Cirriculum” Extension publication B-6244.  $10.
• J. R. Anciso.  2009. “Food Safety SOP Manual”. Extension publication with TDA grant number SC-09-01.
• J. R. Anciso.  2009. “What are GAPs?/What does GAPs approved mean?” Extension publication SP-366.
• J. R. Anciso, 2008. Food safety co-chair for food safety white paper. National Vegetable Crops Initiative. Denver, CO.
• M. Valdez and J. R. Anciso, 2008. Food Safety GAPs initiative for the spinach industry. [abstract] National Spinach Conference, San Antonio, TX.
• Johnston L. M., L. Jaykus, D. Moll, M. Martinez, J. R. Anciso, B. Mora, and C. Moe. 2006. A field study of the microbiological quality of fresh produce of domestic and imported origin. Inter. J. Food Micro. 112: 83-95.
• Johnston L. M., L. Jaykus, D. Moll, M. Martinez, J .R. Anciso, B. Mora, and C. Moe. 2005. A field study of the microbiological quality of fresh produce. J. Food Prot. 68: 1840-1847.