UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Joseph Speroni of Sandwich, Mass., is one of five recipients of 2001 Outstanding Alumni Awards from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The award highlights distinguished graduates of the college and creates opportunities for interaction between alumni, students and faculty.

Speroni is director of agricultural, food and quality sciences for Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Since 1982, he has occupied positions in technical management, product development and quality. Prior to arriving at the company, Speroni worked with the New York State Health Department as an environmental health technician.

"During his 20 years at Ocean Spray, Joe's work in product development and quality management has had a significant impact on the company's rapid growth and market dominance," says John Floros, head of Penn State's department of food science. "He also has led Ocean Spray as the first juice company to participate with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Hazard Analysis Critical Control Program (HACCP) pilot and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and FDA on their Pesticide Protective Screen Program."

Speroni has authored or sponsored research publications in diverse areas including food chemistry, processing, fruit authenticity and the healthful properties of cranberries.

Speroni has chaired and served on several committees as a member of the National Food Processors Association. He also belongs to the Institute of Food Technologists, the International Life Sciences Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the American Chemical Society.

He received a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1975, a master's degree in plant pathology from Penn State in 1979 and a doctoral degree in food science from Penn State in 1982.

In conjunction with receiving the award, Speroni will travel to Penn State's University Park campus this fall to visit with students, faculty, staff and administrators.

###

EDITORS: For more information, contact Jillian Stevenson at 814-863-2831.

Contacts:

Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax