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Eduardo Gutierrez Rodriguez

Eduardo Gutierrez-Rodriguez headshot.

Role: Associate Professor in Food Safety Systems, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, CSU Fort Collins, and Lead Scientist for the Spur Produce Facility

How are you connected to Spur?

I am responsible for the produce facility that will work directly with the minimally processed food industry in research and development of minimally processed foods (examples: fresh cut, dehydration, ready to eat, fresh fruits and vegetables), validation of food safety systems, shelf-life studies, environmental monitoring, and risk assessment in agriculture and processing environments.

When did you get involved with Spur and why is it important to you?

​I got involved with Spur late 2020 a few months after my arrival at CSU. Since then, I was asked to help the team upgrade and develop the produce facility. This is important for the minimally processed food industry because this will be one of a few food facilities in the nation capable of providing a testing ground for the development and implementation of food safety hurdles within a medium size scale processing facility. It will also allow for product development that can be scaled into commercial kitchen conditions and sensory science analysis as we look to team up with other facilities within the Terra building. This facility could be the one stop shop for the minimally processed food industry for bringing a new product from concept to market or for existing companies to validate their current products to meet food safety requirements under the necessary biosafety levels.

What outcomes have you seen or do you expect from work at Spur?

There are many potential outcomes from that could come to fruition from the Terra produce facility, but three key goals are the following:

  • Serve as a facility for product development, food safety,  product, and process validation
  • Provide industry relevant training on risk assessment, produce safety, microbiology within the minimally processed food industry
  • Connect agriculture (either field, greenhouse, or rooftop/indoor farming) with the food industry to expand and support farmers and food processor business goals

What would you like others to know about Spur?

That Spur’s Terra building is a place where the consumer, grower, entrepreneur, and food processor can come to learn, interact, share knowledge, and develop business ideas within agriculture and food environments.

KAREN SCHLATTER

Director, Colorado Water Center

Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.

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TOM VILSACK

Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation

Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.

In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.

He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.

Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.

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CSU Spur is turning 2! Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.

It’s our anniversary!

It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.

2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.

We’ll see you Saturday!

2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (May 9), and this month, the theme is Spur in Bloom. Join us for flower-themed arts and crafts, horse demonstrations, interactive activities focused on topics like sustainability and gardening, the return of the Market at the Center, and more!

Explore 2nd Saturday activities