CWC Quality Lab Under New Leadership Posted on 7/7/2014
Woodland, CA -The Milling and Baking Quality Lab at the California Wheat Commission has a new director - only the second one in more than 20 years of operation. Claudia Carter, who recently obtained her Master's Degree in Cereal Science from North Dakota State University, assumed the new position on June 16, 2014. In addition to her strong educational background, Carter spent two years working in the durum quality lab at NDSU.
"I am very excited to be here at the California Wheat Commission," said Carter. "This is the only state wheat commission with a dedicated quality lab. With the growing interest in where food comes from, I look forward to expanding the lab's education and outreach activities." The Commission's lab tests the milling and end use quality of the major wheat varieties grown in California and publishes the data in annual crop quality reports. Four students from UC Davis begin work today to supplement the lab's staff for the summer.
The Commission's longtime lab director, Sam Huang, retired on June 30th. "Claudia will have big shoes to fill," said the Commission's Past Chairman Larry Hunn, a wheat grower from Clarksburg, CA. "Under Sam's direction, the lab played a major role in improving the quality of California wheat . We wish Sam well in his retirement and thank him for his many years of dedication and loyalty to the California wheat industry."
The Commission conducted a lengthy search for a new lab director. "We are very pleased to have found Claudia," said Roy Motter, chairman of the California Wheat Commission and a durum grower from Imperial County. "We are confident she has the knowledge and energy to carry the lab forward."
The lab performs quality testing, chemical analysis of wheat and flour, physical dough testing and baking, and noodle production tests. The lab also analyzes samples of advanced experimental wheat varieties being developed by private and public breeding programs. In addition to all the research related testing, the lab is available to commercial customers for quality assurance, product development, and technical training.
