COI members stay ahead of the food-safety curve
COI members stay ahead of the food-safety curve
Kay Riley, president of Certified Onions Inc., said customers who purchase onions from the organization’s members are assured that product meets and exceeds the highest food-safety standards available today.
The nonprofit organization was formed in July 2009. “This is our sixth year of testing,” Riley told The Produce News.
Members voluntarily undergo stringent testing for off-label pesticide use and random maximum residue levels, and pathogen testing is also available. Third-party auditing is performed at both the field and shed levels.
With 25 members in its fold, growers account for an estimated 20,500 acres of onions in the Treasure Valley.
As food-safety concerns and regulations continue to grow, Riley said the testing has real-world value. “Many of the members are providing their customers with certificates for the absence of pathogens and compliance with pesticide regulations,” Riley said. “With the programs COI has put into place, much of this testing has become somewhat of an industry standard.” He added that some domestic customers are now requiring such certification, and international markets are following suit.
“Being aware of and testing for maximum residues and microbials is part of a vibrant food-safety plan,” Riley added.
Because the organization is a nonprofit, Riley said, “We are pretty altruistic in nature. This has led to better communication, and it’s a unifying banner for Treasure Valley growers.”
Looking into the future, Riley said the organization’s activities will become increasingly important. As COI’s role as an industry leader continues to grow, he anticipates water testing for pathogens will become another area in which COI will move forward. “We have the mechanics and framework in place,” he said.
The officers and members of COI’s board of directors have a long history of involvement with onion production in the Treasure Valley:
President Riley is general manager of Snake River Produce Co. in Nyssa, OR.
Vice President and Treasurer Garry Bybee is chief executive officer of Fiesta Farms in Nyssa, OR.
Secretary John Wong is president of Champion Produce Sales, Inc. in Parma, ID.
Grant Kitamura is general manager of Murakami Produce Co. in Ontario, OR.
Casey Prentiss is Ontario district manager of the Commodity Inspection Division, Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Bill Trask is food-safety director of Baker Packing Co. in Ontario, OR.
Tim Burnett is director of procurement of Dickinson Frozen Foods in Fruitland, ID.
And Jon Watson is president of J.C. Watson Packing Co. in Parma, ID.
