TARA MCHUGH

Food researcher Tara McHugh talks about fruit and vegetable based edible food films and their potential impact.

Tara H. McHugh, Ph.D. is the research leader of the USDA, ARS, WRRC, Processed Foods Research Unit, where she has developed and applied a variety of new technologies to enhance the market value of fruits and vegetables. Recently she has begun innovative research programs exploring antimicrobial edible films and applications of nanoscience to foods.

Tara has also received numerous awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the USDA Secretary Honors Award for Superior Service, and the Popular Science Best of What’s New Award. Her research has widely covered in the press, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal and USA Weekend, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, The Osgood Files and over 100 other national and international magazine, radio and television broadcasts.