State okays marketing agreement

This report from the AP reflects the latest developments concerning the California state marketing agreement on leafy greens. Look for more industry perspective in The Packer in this week's coverage.

Bottom line, state agriculture officials gave the industry the go ahead to proceed with the voluntary marketing agreement designed to restore consumer confidence in Calfornia leafy greens.

The Department of Food and Agriculture approved the plan after 24 handlers that wash, package and ship about 70 percent of the leafy greens processed in the state agreed to take part. The program was put forward by the produce industry after the spinach-related E. coli scare that sickened people coast to coast last year.


TK: The 24 companies represent most of the biggest handlers/processors of leafy greens out of a pool of about 140, state officials said. Seventy percent of the volume is a substantial majority, but a little shy of my expectations. Where are the 116 handlers that didn't sign on? Predictably, the gap in participation leaves room for critics to argue for state regulation.

State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, who has introduced a bill that would set more stringent, mandatory production standards for leafy greens and put the responsibility for overseeing California-grown produce under the state health department, said the agriculture department's approval of the industry plan does not obviate the need for his legislation.
Even though the largest processors have agreed to participate, Florez said he was concerned the number of companies who signed on means the industry is not serious about policing itself.
"This industry still doesn't believe there is a problem out there, even though they say they do," Florez said.

TK: Here is a report about a lawsuit trial date set related to the spinach outbreak.