If not produce safety....

In a conference call today, both Peter Goulet, chairman of the Newark, Del-based Produce Marketing Association, and Emanuel Lazopoulos, chairman of the United Fresh Produce Association, expressed strong support for their associations' unified approach on produce safety. Both said the industry will be engaged with the Food and Drug Administration to help put in place science-based standards.

One of them made the comment that if the two groups can't work together on produce safety, then what could they do together....

The clear meaning is that produce safety is of core importance to the industry. The members of both groups desire for PMA and United to be talking with each other - staff and industry leaders - and as unified as possible. Kudos to all concerned for the effort and resolve to make it happen.