WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture audits that verify produce meet Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices will be modified to meet the new food-safety standards coming from the Food & Drug Administration, a top USDA official reassured the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee at a Sept. 29 meeting.

In July, new industry members were named to the federal committee that meets twice a year to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on a wide range of issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. Industry members represent a cross-section of the industry, including growers, shippers, wholesalers, importers and processors. The panel had not met since 2011, however, before its Sept. 29-30 meeting in Arlington, VA.

On Sept. 29, AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo updated the group on USDA activities in the specialty crop sector.

The agency grades 30 billion pounds of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and issues more than 500,000 certificates annually. GAP and GHP audits, which verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored in the safest manner, minimize risk of microbial food safety hazard and build consumer trust, she said.

"I know there has been a lot of discussion lately about [the Food Safety Modernization Act] and what it will mean for growers and handlers. I want to assure you that AMS is working closely with FDA, and we will modify GAP/GHP as needed to ensure that they meet the requirements of the FSMA final rule," she said. "As part of our overall strategy to effectively meet your food-safety needs, AMS is also actively working toward being able to provide audits under the Global Food Safety Initiative umbrella."

Alonzo said USDA has worked to meet past recommendations from the committee, such as increasing industry outreach on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. AMS has reached 2,600 industry members through seven PACA webinars in recent years.

As of this month, Alonzo said AMS has purchased more than $601 million of fruits, vegetables and specialty crops in FY 2014.

The new school lunch standards have translated to more purchases, she said.

"In fact, we purchased 20 percent more fruit and vegetable products in 2013 than in the previous year as a result of the new standards. And we'll continue working with your industry to make sure America's schoolchildren have access to the nutrition they need to thrive," she said.

In other news, USDA has awarded $110 million in FY 2014 grants this year, including $66 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. USDA also issued nearly 10,000 reimbursements totally more than $6.5 million in cost share programs for organic producers and handlers.

"The secretary and I believe that this committee is ready to hit the ground running," she said. "We are counting on you to discuss, develop, and provide recommendations that will support the entire sector."

The following members will serve on the committee from 2014-2016: Virginia Barnes of Barnes Farm in Hastings, FL; Richard Ha Jr. of Hamakua Springs Country Farms in Hilo, HI; Ricke Kress of Southern Gardens Citrus in Clewiston, FL; Paul Newman of Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers/Columbia Valley Fruit in Wenatchee and Union Gap, WA; Robert Nolan of Deer Run Farms in Brookhaven, NY; Christopher Puentes of Interfresh Inc. in Orange, CA; Jennifer (Jin Ju) Wilder of Valley Fruit & Produce Co. in Los Angeles; Vaughn Koligian of Sun-Maid Growers of California in Kingsburg, CA; Diane Smith of the Michigan Apple Committee in Lansing, MI; Beth Knorr of Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy in Peninsula, OH; and Brent Roggie of the National Grape Cooperative Association in Westfield, NY, and Concord, MA.

These members will serve three-year terms from 2014 - 2017: Ben Burkett of B&B Farms in Petal, MS; Helen Dietrich of Ridgeview Orchards in Conklin, MI; Kristine Ellor of Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA; Richard Hanas of A. Duda & Sons Inc. in Oviedo, FL; James Alan Johnson of Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus, NM; Lorri Koster of Mann Packing Co. in Salinas, CA; Jorge Vazquez of Latin Specialties in Houston; Andy Shoemaker of Taylor Fresh Foods in Salinas, CA; David Yanda of Lakeside Foods in Manitowoc, WI; Tiffany Boaldin of Golden Eagle Casino-Kickapoo Tribe in Horton, KS; Thomas N. Williams of Spartan Nash in Edina, MN; Catherine Burns of the Produce Marketing Association in Newark, DE; Carlos Castaneda of Castaneda & Sons in Arroyo Grande, CA; and Roland McReynolds of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association in Pittsboro, NC.