Aseptic processing and packaging would be involved in the relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
[2][3] Nelson was president of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) for 2001–02.
In his early life, Nelson worked at his family's tomato cannery on their farm near Morristown, Indiana,[4] developing an interest in horticulture.
This led him to a 4-H award when he was 15 at the Indiana State Fair, earning him lunch with the Indiana governor, a gold watch, and a drive around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
After the plant closed in 1960, he returned to Purdue and earned his PhD on flavor volatility in canned tomatoes.