Mexico opens border to California spinach to LGMA members only
Mexico opens border to California spinach to LGMA members only
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Mexico has announced that it will once again allow imports of California spinach but is requiring that any imported spinach products must by grown and shipped by member-companies of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Mexico's Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks announced the import requirements in late November. Canada issued similar import requirements earlier this year.
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement was established in 2007 and operates with oversight from the California Department of Food & Agriculture. This newly formed agency verifies through government audits that farmers follow enhanced food-safety standards for lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens. Handlers, which include farmers, shippers and processors, have demonstrated their willingness to follow the new standards by voluntarily signing the marketing agreement. Once the marketing agreement is signed, it becomes mandatory for those handlers to purchase product solely from farmers who comply with the enhanced food safety standards.
The objective of California's leafy greens industry is to protect the public's health by reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses in California-grown lettuce, spinach and other leafy green products. That goal was reached in 2007, as no cases of foodborne illnesses tied to California leafy green products were reported.
"We are very pleased to see Mexico re-opening its border to California spinach and that measures put in place by the California LGMA provided the Mexican government the assurance they were looking for in relation to safety of our product," Joe Pezzini, LGMA chairman of the board, said in a Dec. 20 press release.
In addition to receiving approval from Canada and Mexico, the California LGMA has been used as a model for the newly created Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Since the Mexican border closed to California spinach in September 2006, Western Growers Association and the USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service have been working with the Mexican government to reverse its decision. Scott Horsfall, LGMAs chief executive officer, commended WGA for its dedication to resolving this issue with Mexico.
Mexico's Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks announced the import requirements in late November. Canada issued similar import requirements earlier this year.
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement was established in 2007 and operates with oversight from the California Department of Food & Agriculture. This newly formed agency verifies through government audits that farmers follow enhanced food-safety standards for lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens. Handlers, which include farmers, shippers and processors, have demonstrated their willingness to follow the new standards by voluntarily signing the marketing agreement. Once the marketing agreement is signed, it becomes mandatory for those handlers to purchase product solely from farmers who comply with the enhanced food safety standards.
The objective of California's leafy greens industry is to protect the public's health by reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses in California-grown lettuce, spinach and other leafy green products. That goal was reached in 2007, as no cases of foodborne illnesses tied to California leafy green products were reported.
"We are very pleased to see Mexico re-opening its border to California spinach and that measures put in place by the California LGMA provided the Mexican government the assurance they were looking for in relation to safety of our product," Joe Pezzini, LGMA chairman of the board, said in a Dec. 20 press release.
In addition to receiving approval from Canada and Mexico, the California LGMA has been used as a model for the newly created Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Since the Mexican border closed to California spinach in September 2006, Western Growers Association and the USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service have been working with the Mexican government to reverse its decision. Scott Horsfall, LGMAs chief executive officer, commended WGA for its dedication to resolving this issue with Mexico.
