LGMA announces limited signup for new members
LGMA announces limited signup for new members
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, based in Sacramento, CA, is accepting signup forms from new signatories for the 2008-09 fiscal year. In order to participate in the LGMA program from April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, handlers must complete their signup form and submit it to the LGMA office by April 1. Current members do not need to sign up again.
Nearly 120 handlers representing over 99 percent of the volume of California lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens joined the organization in 2007, committing themselves to handle and sell products grown in accordance with a set of Good Agricultural Practices. In addition, both Canada and Mexico have put regulations in place allowing imports of leafy greens only from LGMA-certified companies.
Handlers that would like to join the agreement need to verify that they meet the LGMA's definition of a handler and also that they handle at least one of the leafy green products covered under the LGMA program.
The agreement defines a handler as, "Any person who handles, processes, ships or distributes leafy green product for market whether as owner, agent, employee, broker or otherwise." This definition does not include a retailer.
Leafy green products covered by the agreement include arugula, baby leaf lettuce, Butter lettuce, cabbage, chard, endive, escarole, green leaf lettuce, Iceberg lettuce, kale, red leaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, spinach and spring mix.
Prospective members should review the LGMA's Good Agricultural Practices, which can be found on its web site, www.caleafygreens.ca.gov. Once enrolled in the program, members and their growers are subject to compliance audits conducted by California Department of Food & Agriculture inspectors. The goal of these audits is to verify that handlers and their growers are complying with the accepted Good Agricultural Practices of the LGMA.
Members of the agreement are subject to assessments on all California- grown leafy greens handled by the company during the membership period.
Nearly 120 handlers representing over 99 percent of the volume of California lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens joined the organization in 2007, committing themselves to handle and sell products grown in accordance with a set of Good Agricultural Practices. In addition, both Canada and Mexico have put regulations in place allowing imports of leafy greens only from LGMA-certified companies.
Handlers that would like to join the agreement need to verify that they meet the LGMA's definition of a handler and also that they handle at least one of the leafy green products covered under the LGMA program.
The agreement defines a handler as, "Any person who handles, processes, ships or distributes leafy green product for market whether as owner, agent, employee, broker or otherwise." This definition does not include a retailer.
Leafy green products covered by the agreement include arugula, baby leaf lettuce, Butter lettuce, cabbage, chard, endive, escarole, green leaf lettuce, Iceberg lettuce, kale, red leaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, spinach and spring mix.
Prospective members should review the LGMA's Good Agricultural Practices, which can be found on its web site, www.caleafygreens.ca.gov. Once enrolled in the program, members and their growers are subject to compliance audits conducted by California Department of Food & Agriculture inspectors. The goal of these audits is to verify that handlers and their growers are complying with the accepted Good Agricultural Practices of the LGMA.
Members of the agreement are subject to assessments on all California- grown leafy greens handled by the company during the membership period.
