The Food Files

Parker Christman, graduate research assistant, focuses on research in the fruit and vegetable processing lab at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Parker describes creating a guide for new processing facilities that are wanting to become federally inspected. The goal is to help new processing facilities apply for U...

Tim Bowser, food process engineer, strives to help in-state clients optimize their potential through research at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Tim explains research on the texture measurement of protein bars to extend the shelf life. The goal is to provide clients with technology to improve food safety while m...

Dani Bellmer, food process engineer, contributes to biosystems and agricultural engineering research at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Dani explains the degradation of compostable plastics and the common challenges for breaking down plastics. The goal is to find an effective pretreatment process for the compost...

JD Fox has worked in the meat pilot plant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center for over a year after transferring from a community college. In this episode of The Food Files, JD discusses a typical work day and his favorite aspects of the job, which includes promoting small businesses to help consumers.

Tim Bowser, food process engineer at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, discusses the high-demand of a vibration table, which helps companies efficiently remove air bubbles in liquid products. In this episode of The Food Files, Tim explains the development of a fact sheet, which provides guidance for producers to build their own vibration table at a...

Breydon Codding began working as a student manager in the area of meat processing at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center in March of 2020. In this episode of The Food Files, Breydon describes the meat cutting process from start to finish and discusses his student experience while working at FAPC.

Jaymee Zabienski focuses on extension work for the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Jaymee credits the family environment as capable professors mold students into the researchers they are today. 

Shamanthak Amarendranath focuses his student research on body lactic acid at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Shamanthak describes his experience conducting research with food packaging at FAPC.

Andrea Graves, business planning and marketing specialist at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, discusses spooky Halloween food facts. In this episode of The Food Files, Andrea discusses festive food ranging from pumpkins to candy corn, along with explaining beloved seasonal traditions.

Sreeram Mikkilineni works as a food science graduate assistant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and focuses his research on edible beef skin. In this episode of The Food Files, Sreeram describes the transition of coming from India and the lack of processed foods within his home country. He explains the diversity at FAPC by referencing food engin...

Parker Christman works in the research department at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and has expressed an interest in working for the USDA or focusing on the development of new products after completing his master’s degree. In this episode of The Food Files, Parker describes the importance of becoming involved at FAPC by building strong relationsh...

Christina Thomas helped the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center deliver virtual food safety training opportunities to the food industry. In this episode of The Food Files, Christina discusses her passion for combatting food safety issues during a pandemic and how she experienced first-hand chemical and biological research to improve food safety.

Food safety specialist, Ravi Jadeja, discusses food safety tips for the tailgating season recommended by the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Ravi describes how following safe food-handling procedures can help prevent people from getting sick during game day.

Samantha Quiros-Newton works in the microbiology lab at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and focuses her research on expanding the shelf life of humus. In this episode of The Food Files, Samantha shares her unique perspective on being a student from Costa Rica, describes the opportunity to work in the lab and explains her experience with the welcom...

Darci DeVous is a food safety graduate assistant for the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, and her research focuses on reducing food pathogens. In this episode of The Food Files, Darci expresses her passion for product diversity in the food industry with the continuous goal to build consumer trust.

Kavya Gavai works in food science as a graduate student at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and believes in strong time management to achieve research results. In this episode of The Food Files, Kavya emphasizes the importance of product safety.

Xin Mei Teng works as a laboratory assistant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and shares her passion for working in a meat processing plant to carry-out experiments. In this episode of The Food Files, she describes the real-world experience using industrial equipment and machinery at FAPC.

Business and marketing client coordinator, Erin Johnson, discusses her role at the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center which focuses on helping businesses in the state. The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center is the largest provider of management and technology assistance for small businesses in the United States. In this episode of The Food Files, Erin explains the purpose...

Kayla Van Ruler works in the extension office at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and handles the business and marketing requests from visionary people who desire to start a new company or expand a current company. In this episode of The Food Files, Kayla discusses how facts sheets and data benefit people in the community by contributing to long-te...

Caitlin Karolenko works in the Food Microbiology Lab at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. In this episode of The Food Files, Caitlin discusses her research of validating the opportunity to produce South African inspired beef jerky safely in the United States and her experiences with problem-solving to improve products for expansion-driven industrie...

Corrine Burrus is an undergraduate research assistant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and manages multiple research projects independently as well as working with other students. In this episode of The Food Files, Corrine describes the diligent research process and emphasizes the rewarding potential of contributing to the food industry.

Business and marketing specialist, Andrea Graves, discusses the collaborative relationship between the Made in Oklahoma Coalition and the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center. Mentorship is just one of many benefits to being a member of the Made in Oklahoma Program. In this episode of The Food Files, Andrea describes the differences between the Made in Okl...

Tayler Hays works in the meat pilot plant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and describes the hands-on experience and how it has inspired her future career path. In this episode of The Food Files, Tayler describes the daily operations in harvest, fabrication and processing of beef, sheep and hogs. Tayler describes FAPC as being extremely benefici...

Megan Silveira works as a communications graduate assistant at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and shares her perspective on managing the website and social media accounts. In this episode of The Food Files, Megan explains her thesis project with eye tracking glasses to understand what a consumer sees when they are viewing something for the first...

Marcus Washington works as a food safety specialist at the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and assists with meat grinder validation with the goal to limit the E. coli count on ground beef. In this episode of The Food Files, Marcus discusses running meat through the machine for samples and believes the hardest part of research is having to wait for res...