STILLWATER, Okla. – The Food & Agricultural Products Center on the Oklahoma State University campus welcomed the Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as a visitor to the center.

Chancellor Paul G. Risser met with the FAPC director; several faculty and staff members; and Robert Whitson, vice president, dean and director of Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources recently to learn more about the mission and purpose of the FAPC, as well as to learn about the services the center provides.

J. Roy. Escoubas, FAPC director, said he was honored to have Chancellor Risser visit the center.

“Chancellor Risser viewed value-added products being manufactured and learned about the food safety applied research performed at the center,” Escoubas said. “I believe Dr. Risser was pleased with the work of the FAPC and with the investment made by the State of Oklahoma to establish the FAPC for economic development.”

Specifically, Chancellor Risser had the opportunity to see peanut butter syrup being manufactured.  The FAPC has worked with an Oklahoma company in the creation, production, co-packer placement and marketing of this product.

Also, the chancellor visited with the FAPC food microbiologists about food safety work performed at the center and projects to reduce pathogens in food products.

Chancellor Risser leads a state system comprised of 25 state colleges and universities and nine constituent agencies.  He provides leadership on matters relating to standards for Oklahoma higher education, courses and programs of study, budget allocations for institutions, fees and tuition, and strategic planning.

Escoubas said he was pleased to give Chancellor Risser a tour of the FAPC facilities and some insight on the work being performed at the center.

“I believe it is extremely important for individuals, such as Chancellor Riser, to understand the importance of value-added processing and how the FAPC is contributing to this growing industry,” he said. “The FAPC is dedicated to processing basic value-added products to create jobs and income in Oklahoma.”

The mission of the FAPC is to discover, develop and deliver technical and business information that will stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing in Oklahoma.

The FAPC has assisted more than 850 Oklahoma businesses with more than 1,100 projects affecting more than 8,000 direct food-processing jobs and more than $500 million in direct food processing revenue in Oklahoma.

- ### -

Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

• Go back to news release main page