Strong federal oversight

The produce industry is ready for strong federal oversight of produce safety. That's what United President Tom Stenzel told the fruit and vegetable advisory committee today. The United Fresh Produce Association board voted unanimously to adopt four principles for a food safety regulatory framework for fresh produce:
1. Produce safety standards must be consistent and applicable to all produce grown anywhere in the U.S or imported into the country
2. Produce safety standards must be mandatory, with sufficient federal oversight in order to be credible to consumers.
3. These standards cannot depend upon marketing programs or voluntary certification, although these programs can be helpful
4. Produce safety standards must allow for commodity specific food safety practices based on the best available science.

It's important to note that neither United or Western Growers feel this call for federal oversight runs counter to California's work to develop a voluntary marketing agreement for leafy greens..
PMA''s executive board meets this weekend, but Kathy Means - at the meeting today - said PMA will "side with what's necessary to bring confidence in produce safety on the part of consumers and buyers."

Even with recent foodborne illness outbreaks, this may not be an easy sell. At the grass roots level, growers will need a lot of education, not to mention wholesalers and retailers; Stenzel said the vision is for a farm to table type of oversight.

More coming...