United's plan

There are many questions about what strong federal oversight - advocated yesterday by United Fresh - will mean to the fresh produce industry. More than that, what will it mean for apples compared with melons, or cabbage compared with spinach?
I stopped by United's HQ on Pennsylvania Ave. and visited with Amy Philpott and Tom Stenzel a little bit this afternoon. Stenzel said that United doesn't necessarily see a "one size fits all" approach. At the same time, all commodities should be under the regulatory umbrella.
"Clearly lettuce and leafy greens are in the bulls eye, but our board feels strongly that everyone is losing public confidence with every outbreak," he said.

Flexibility and variability are the keys to implementing food safety regulations (getting way ahead of myself here) , and without it strong federal oversight could be a hard deal to live with.