COI members test high percentage of Treasure Valley onion acres
COI members test high percentage of Treasure Valley onion acres
The number of onion production acres in the Treasure Valley being tested for members of Certified Onions Inc. is a strong indicator of just how seriously food-safety concerns are taken.
“We have an estimated 20,500 acres in the valley,” President Kay Riley, who is also general manager of Snake River Produce Co. in Nyssa, OR, told The Produce News. “They’ve tested 86 percent of this acreage.”
Members of the nonprofit organization voluntarily undergo stringent testing for off-label pesticide use and random maximum residue levels. “There’s some growth in microbial testing,” he added. Third-party auditing is performed at both the field and shed levels.
At the current time, the organization is comprised of 25 members. Newest among these are Partner’s Produce Inc. and Eastern Oregon Produce Inc.
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.
“It’s become a part of many people’s food-safety plans,” Riley added.
COI has been actively involved in research projects determining whether there is a connection between irrigation water quality and the presence of pathogens.
“COI helped to fund water-quality research through the Oregon State University Experiment Station. COI is very optimistic about the preliminary results of the testing and research and hopes the results will influence the Food Safety Modernization Act regulations,” Riley stated.
