Robert E. Berry
Encyclopedia
Robert E. Berry was an American
food scientist
who was involved in citrus
research with the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) before becoming Editor-In-Chief of the Institute of Food Technologists
' (IFT) Journal of Food Science
(JFS) from 1990 to 1998.
, Berry earned his B.S.
degree in chemistry
and biology
from Vanderbilt University
in Nashville, Tennessee
. He then transferred to the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
where he earned his M.S.
and Ph.D
in agricultural
biochemistry
. After earning his Ph.D., Berry worked four years with Nestle
before joing the USDA in 1958.
. In 1989, he succeeded Aaron E. Wasserman
as editor of JFS. During Berry's tenure, JFS would change its structure where articles would be published a first-come, first-serve basis to where it would be sectioned by discipline (food chemistry
, food engineering
, food microbiology
, nutrition
, and sensory analysis
.). This change occurred in 1996. Berry would retire at the end of 1998 and be succeeded by Owen R. Fennema.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
food scientist
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
who was involved in citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
research with the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
(ARS) before becoming Editor-In-Chief of the Institute of Food Technologists
Institute of Food Technologists
The Institute of Food Technologists or IFT is an international, non-profit professional organization for the advancement of food science and technology. It is the largest of food science organizations in the world, encompassing 22,000 members worldwide as of 2006. It is referred to as "THE Society...
' (IFT) Journal of Food Science
Journal of Food Science
The Journal of Food Science is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1936 and is published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago, Illinois...
(JFS) from 1990 to 1998.
Early life and career
A native of MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Berry earned his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. He then transferred to the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
where he earned his M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
. After earning his Ph.D., Berry worked four years with Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
before joing the USDA in 1958.
Service with USDA
Berry worked with USDA ARS from 1958 until his retirement on September 1, 1989, including his role as director of the Citrus & Subtropical Products Laboratory. While there, he earned four patents with USDA. Additionally, he published 140 articles in scientific journals, books, and book chapters.Service with IFT
Berry was elected a fellow of IFT in 1984 for his research both with Nestle and with the USDA ARS in Winter Haven, FloridaWinter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
. In 1989, he succeeded Aaron E. Wasserman
Aaron E. Wasserman
Aaron E. Wasserman was an American food scientist whose career started out in the medical field in microbiology, then evolved into research with the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service into food chemistry...
as editor of JFS. During Berry's tenure, JFS would change its structure where articles would be published a first-come, first-serve basis to where it would be sectioned by discipline (food chemistry
Food chemistry
Food chemistry is the study of chemical processes and interactions of all biological and non-biological components of foods. The biological substances include such items as meat, poultry, lettuce, beer, and milk as examples...
, food engineering
Food engineering
Food engineering is a multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries. Food engineering includes, but is not limited to, the application of agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering and...
, food microbiology
Food microbiology
Food microbiology is the study of the microorganisms that inhabit, create, or contaminate food. Of major importance is the study of microorganisms causing food spoilage. "Good" bacteria, however, such as probiotics, are becoming increasingly important in food science...
, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, and sensory analysis
Sensory analysis
Sensory analysis is a scientific discipline that applies principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to the use of human senses for the purposes of evaluating consumer products. The discipline requires panels of human assessors, on whom the products are tested, and recording the...
.). This change occurred in 1996. Berry would retire at the end of 1998 and be succeeded by Owen R. Fennema.
Life after USDA and IFT
Living in Winter Haven, Florida, Berry and his wife published a book of poetry about poems written by Berry's now deceased mother.Patents
- US 3,672,909. June 27, 1972. Berry, R.E, et al. In United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Station Winter Haven, Florida Patents.
- US 3,372,133. March 27, 1973. Berry, R.E and C.J. Wagner. In United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Station Winter Haven, Florida Patents.
- US 3,379,538. April 23, 1968. Berry, R.E, et al. In United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Station Winter Haven, Florida Patents.
Selected works
- Berry, R.E. (1993). "What's Your Hypothesis?" Journal of Food Science. 58(3): ii-ii.
- Tatum, J.H., P.E. Shaw, and R.E. Berry. (1967). "Some compounds formed during nonenzymic browning of orange power." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 15(5): 773-775.