Dr. Darlene Cowart’s election as Fellow of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES) reflects her groundbreaking impact on peanut food safety, industry leadership, and service to the profession. With over three decades dedicated solely to peanuts, Dr. Cowart has emerged as a national voice for food safety, earning widespread respect across industry and academia.
As Vice President of Food Safety and Quality at Birdsong Peanuts, she has spearheaded critical quality and safety initiatives and served as the industry’s technical representative during major events, including testifying before Congress during the PCA salmonella outbreak. Her leadership catalyzed meaningful change—helping shape legislation like the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Her service spans the USDA Peanut Standards Board, the American Peanut Shellers Association, the Peanut Institute, the Peanut Research Foundation, and the American Peanut Council. She has played pivotal roles in promoting aflatoxin research, implementing safety standards for U.S. peanuts, and strengthening international market protocols.
Dr. Cowart also led the Peanut Institute’s research committee and personally advanced its mission, including helping to select its executive director. She wrote a chapter in a foundational peanut textbook, and regularly engages media to educate and advocate. Even during peak shelling seasons, she hosts plant tours and supports public outreach.
Through APRES, she served on key committees (Public Relations, Finance, Peanut Quality), the Board of Directors, and as a recurring symposium speaker, showcasing her dedication to educating and leading across disciplines.
As one evaluator stated, “When serious technical issues arise in the US Peanut Industry, especially around food safety and/or food quality, Dr. Cowart is often the first person called to provide her perspective and organize an industry response.” For all these reasons, her election as Fellow of APRES is both a recognition of immense influence and a testament to lifelong service.
