Characterization of tree fruit bacterial communities during harvest

Over the last 40 years there has been a dramatic increase in people's desire to consume fresh fruits and vegetables as a major part of a health diet, for example the per capita consumption of apples in the United States in 1976 was 29.9 lbs. compared to 45.6 lbs. in 2014. However, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributed 46% of all foodborne infections in the U.S. to fresh produce. Part of...