Leafy greens marketing agreement ready for sign-ups
Leafy greens marketing agreement ready for sign-ups
SALINAS, CA -- The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced Jan. 24 that the proposed Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which would establish an inspection program for handlers of leafy greens, has been released for sign-ups.
The proposed agreement, which was created by the leafy greens industry and is being facilitated by CDFA, would utilize the inspection program to verify that leafy greens handlers are complying with their own standards. Handlers are middlemen through whom product moves from field to retail.
If sign-ups indicate that there is enough participation for the agreement to be effective, CDFA would then certify it. Handlers are being encouraged to sign up by Feb. 5.
The marketing agreement would be the first step in an overall plan that would then move to a marketing order, which would verify and enforce standards among all leafy greens growers.
The primary distinction between a marketing order and a marketing agreement is that participation in an order is mandatory while participation in the agreement is voluntary. However, once handlers commit to an agreement, compliance is mandatory.
A link to the proposed marketing agreement may be found at www.cdfa.ca.gov.
CDFA spokesman Steve Lyle said the marketing agreement should be fully operational by this spring.
Jim Bogart, president and general counsel of Salinas, CA-based Grower- Shipper Association of Central California, said he is pleased with the outcome.
"It's a positive step forward," Mr. Bogart said. "Grower-Shipper has been involved in the effort since Day 1."
Tim Chelling, a spokesman for Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association, said that the effort was all about upgraded food-safety standards.
WGA, whose members grow, pack and ship 90 percent of the fresh vegetables and 70 percent of the fruits and nuts in California and Arizona, spearheaded the initiative with early support from both the California Farm Bureau and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
CDFA's announcement follows a Jan. 12 state hearing in Monterey, CA, that was held with the narrowly defined purpose of allowing CDFA to determine whether to go forward with the agreement.
The proposed agreement, which was created by the leafy greens industry and is being facilitated by CDFA, would utilize the inspection program to verify that leafy greens handlers are complying with their own standards. Handlers are middlemen through whom product moves from field to retail.
If sign-ups indicate that there is enough participation for the agreement to be effective, CDFA would then certify it. Handlers are being encouraged to sign up by Feb. 5.
The marketing agreement would be the first step in an overall plan that would then move to a marketing order, which would verify and enforce standards among all leafy greens growers.
The primary distinction between a marketing order and a marketing agreement is that participation in an order is mandatory while participation in the agreement is voluntary. However, once handlers commit to an agreement, compliance is mandatory.
A link to the proposed marketing agreement may be found at www.cdfa.ca.gov.
CDFA spokesman Steve Lyle said the marketing agreement should be fully operational by this spring.
Jim Bogart, president and general counsel of Salinas, CA-based Grower- Shipper Association of Central California, said he is pleased with the outcome.
"It's a positive step forward," Mr. Bogart said. "Grower-Shipper has been involved in the effort since Day 1."
Tim Chelling, a spokesman for Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association, said that the effort was all about upgraded food-safety standards.
WGA, whose members grow, pack and ship 90 percent of the fresh vegetables and 70 percent of the fruits and nuts in California and Arizona, spearheaded the initiative with early support from both the California Farm Bureau and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
CDFA's announcement follows a Jan. 12 state hearing in Monterey, CA, that was held with the narrowly defined purpose of allowing CDFA to determine whether to go forward with the agreement.
