The 2016 National Watermelon Convention will shine a spotlight on two critically important issues for the members of the Lakeland, FL-based National Watermelon Association: labor and food-safety rules. “Everything we intend to do is member-centric,” said Executive Director Bob Morrissey.

Morrissey said the association comprises more than 800 member companies, with thousands of members spanning nine districts in the United States. The convention will be held in New Orleans Feb. 24-28.

A detailed agenda of all activities, including the labor forum and food-safety seminar, is available at https://watermelon.ag.

In all, Morrissey said he expects 500 people from across the United States will attend the convention. Additionally, some attendees are expected to come from Canada and Mexico.

Morrissey said the 2016 convention focus came about following four membership surveys that identified these two hot-button topics. “We have scheduled and will conduct more [in the areas of] labor and food safety than we’ve ever done in the past eight years,” he told The Produce News.

“Farm labor is different than packing labor,” Morrissey continued. On Feb. 25, attendees will learn more about their rights from two attorneys in a 90-minute labor forum. “Members have rights,” Morrissey stated, adding that companies have the right to request that the Department of Labor schedule on-site visits rather than having inspectors appear unannounced.

Morrissey also said action must be taken to ensure a viable workforce for agriculture. The condition of the H-2A guest worker program will also be discussed. “The H-2A program is terribly broken. It is cumbersome and expensive,” Morrissey stated. “It is absolutely horrible.”

The importance of a viable workforce can’t be understated, he added, as watermelons cannot be mechanically harvested.

The food-safety seminar will be held Feb. 27. Due to the complexity of the Food Safety Modernization Act, Morrissey said it is vital that everyone is on the same page in their understanding of the effects of the new rules.

David Gombas, United Fresh Produce Association vice president of technical services, and a representative from PrimusLabs will go into details about FSMA rules. Morrissey said an invitation has also been extended to an inspector from the Food & Drug Administration to participate in the discussion.

A critical point, Morrissey said, is that agriculture is looking for the first year of FSMA implementation to be one of education rather than enforcement. “We want to hear from the FDA,” he said. “We want to be sure Primus and the FDA are on the same page.”

Attendees will also have an opportunity to find out about the use of drones to quantify agricultural production in a presentation by Steve Maxwell, chief executive officer of the Highland Cos., who will talk about the company’s revolutionary Precision Ag program and certification.

“I can’t wait for our people to hear about this,” Morrissey said. “It’s very actionable data.”