Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement approved; Florida may follow suit
Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement approved; Florida may follow suit
The Arizona Department of Agriculture approved the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Sept. 27 and closed nominations to serve on the Marketing Committee one week later on Thursday, Oct. 4.
Robert Shuler, an attorney for the Phoenix law firm Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, which represents Western Growers Association, said that the Arizona Department of Agriculture indicated that more than 30 leafy greens shippers in the state had signed on to the agreement by the initial Sept. 27 deadline. This represents the vast majority of Arizona's leafy greens production and was sufficient for the department to support the self- sustaining marketing agreement.
Mr. Shuler said that no opposition to the agreement surfaced, although some Arizona-only companies did have many questions as to how the program would work. He said that those companies articulated their concerns at the public hearing but did ultimately support the concept.
The idea was advanced by two companies that have operations in both California and Arizona, which is the case for most leafy greens companies that ship from Arizona. Mr. Shuler said that these companies were interested in having their operations in the two states operate under the same set of rules and best food safety practices, with each state's stamp of approval. "Most of the major companies have signed up, which clearly represents the vast majority of production," he said.
Mr. Shuler said that the Arizona law that enables the establishment of an agricultural marketing agreement does not designate a threshold percentage of the industry in terms of either volume or numbers that must support such a program for it to be enacted. Instead, the department is charged with determining if sufficient support exists to maintain the program. As such, it has not announced the percentage of support but rather that more than 30 shippers have signed on.
Mr. Shuler said that shippers can still sign the agreement and all indications are that virtually the entire industry will be represented before the season begins.
With the nominations to serve on the five-member marketing committee closed, the department was expected to send out a ballot for the elected positions shortly. Mr. Shuler said that the balloting process had not been revealed, but he expected the marketing committee to be announced within a couple of weeks.
The agreement calls for five members, with at least three of them representing Yuma County, and the other two can come from any Arizona county, including Yuma. "Theoretically, all five could come from Yuma," said Mr. Shuler, speaking of Arizona's major leafy greens production area.
The marketing committee itself will be charged with fashioning the details of the program. Mr. Shuler said that as the agreement was being formulated, the discussion centered on adopting the same Good Agricultural Practices metrics that have been adopted by the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement. In addition, the Arizona program is expected to contract with the California agreement and the California Department of Food & Agriculture to provide the inspection and auditing functions.
Mr. Shuler said that the Arizona program is moving rather quickly and should be well in place by the time harvest begins in early January.
Meanwhile, Florida's leafy greens producers were also on the verge of establishing a similar marketing agreement for production from that state. Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, said that members of the Florida Vegetable Exchange met at the FFVA convention Sept. 16-18 and agreed in principle to establish such a program.
The Florida Vegetable Exchange is a Capper-Volstead co-op managed by FFVA. Mr. Stuart said that the group determined that establishing a leafy greens handler marketing agreement under the authority of the co-op was the quickest and best way to move forward with the idea.
Since that meeting, leafy green producers from the Everglade Agricultural Area who are members of the exchange have voted to adopt the California GAP metrics with a one-page addendum dealing specifically with geographical anomalies unique to the Florida Everglades.
Martha Roberts, a University of Florida researcher who is a consultant to the Florida Vegetable Exchange, said the Everglade Agricultural Area is a unique growing district with no animal pressure but with some water issues that needed to be addressed in a separate page to the California GAPs.
Ms. Roberts said that while all the EAA handlers and growers have adopted the GAPs, the method by which Florida will enforce and audit compliance is still being discussed.
The state's tomato growers are working with state regulators on a food- safety program, and the Florida Vegetable Exchange may go that route. The exchange is also closely watching the efforts at the federal level to enact some type of federal marketing agreement.
"I understand USDA is trying to fast-track a rulemaking process on a federal marketing agreement," said Dr. Roberts. "If that is going to happen very quickly, then we may go that route for enforcement. We just don't know yet."
She said that the vast majority of Florida's leafy greens producers and handlers are in the Everglades district and are members of the exchange. Mr. Stuart said that the goal is to have a program in place by the time harvest begins for the winter season.
Robert Shuler, an attorney for the Phoenix law firm Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, which represents Western Growers Association, said that the Arizona Department of Agriculture indicated that more than 30 leafy greens shippers in the state had signed on to the agreement by the initial Sept. 27 deadline. This represents the vast majority of Arizona's leafy greens production and was sufficient for the department to support the self- sustaining marketing agreement.
Mr. Shuler said that no opposition to the agreement surfaced, although some Arizona-only companies did have many questions as to how the program would work. He said that those companies articulated their concerns at the public hearing but did ultimately support the concept.
The idea was advanced by two companies that have operations in both California and Arizona, which is the case for most leafy greens companies that ship from Arizona. Mr. Shuler said that these companies were interested in having their operations in the two states operate under the same set of rules and best food safety practices, with each state's stamp of approval. "Most of the major companies have signed up, which clearly represents the vast majority of production," he said.
Mr. Shuler said that the Arizona law that enables the establishment of an agricultural marketing agreement does not designate a threshold percentage of the industry in terms of either volume or numbers that must support such a program for it to be enacted. Instead, the department is charged with determining if sufficient support exists to maintain the program. As such, it has not announced the percentage of support but rather that more than 30 shippers have signed on.
Mr. Shuler said that shippers can still sign the agreement and all indications are that virtually the entire industry will be represented before the season begins.
With the nominations to serve on the five-member marketing committee closed, the department was expected to send out a ballot for the elected positions shortly. Mr. Shuler said that the balloting process had not been revealed, but he expected the marketing committee to be announced within a couple of weeks.
The agreement calls for five members, with at least three of them representing Yuma County, and the other two can come from any Arizona county, including Yuma. "Theoretically, all five could come from Yuma," said Mr. Shuler, speaking of Arizona's major leafy greens production area.
The marketing committee itself will be charged with fashioning the details of the program. Mr. Shuler said that as the agreement was being formulated, the discussion centered on adopting the same Good Agricultural Practices metrics that have been adopted by the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement. In addition, the Arizona program is expected to contract with the California agreement and the California Department of Food & Agriculture to provide the inspection and auditing functions.
Mr. Shuler said that the Arizona program is moving rather quickly and should be well in place by the time harvest begins in early January.
Meanwhile, Florida's leafy greens producers were also on the verge of establishing a similar marketing agreement for production from that state. Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, said that members of the Florida Vegetable Exchange met at the FFVA convention Sept. 16-18 and agreed in principle to establish such a program.
The Florida Vegetable Exchange is a Capper-Volstead co-op managed by FFVA. Mr. Stuart said that the group determined that establishing a leafy greens handler marketing agreement under the authority of the co-op was the quickest and best way to move forward with the idea.
Since that meeting, leafy green producers from the Everglade Agricultural Area who are members of the exchange have voted to adopt the California GAP metrics with a one-page addendum dealing specifically with geographical anomalies unique to the Florida Everglades.
Martha Roberts, a University of Florida researcher who is a consultant to the Florida Vegetable Exchange, said the Everglade Agricultural Area is a unique growing district with no animal pressure but with some water issues that needed to be addressed in a separate page to the California GAPs.
Ms. Roberts said that while all the EAA handlers and growers have adopted the GAPs, the method by which Florida will enforce and audit compliance is still being discussed.
The state's tomato growers are working with state regulators on a food- safety program, and the Florida Vegetable Exchange may go that route. The exchange is also closely watching the efforts at the federal level to enact some type of federal marketing agreement.
"I understand USDA is trying to fast-track a rulemaking process on a federal marketing agreement," said Dr. Roberts. "If that is going to happen very quickly, then we may go that route for enforcement. We just don't know yet."
She said that the vast majority of Florida's leafy greens producers and handlers are in the Everglades district and are members of the exchange. Mr. Stuart said that the goal is to have a program in place by the time harvest begins for the winter season.
