California industry conducts food-safety tour
California industry conducts food-safety tour
More than 20 health officials from the United States and Canada participated in a food-safety tour of California fields and production facilities July 12-14.
The tour, organized by Watsonville, CA-based Alliance for Food & Farming, provided an opportunity for these officials to see first-hand how California cantaloupes, tomatoes and lettuce are grown.
Alliance Executive Director Marilyn Dolan said that the goal of the tour "was to enhance better understanding of California production practices among the health officials charged with regulating the produce industry."
Participating on the tour were representatives from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the California Department of Food & Agriculture and the California Department of Health Services, as well as Fresno and Monterey county officials.
The tour was sponsored by the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, the California Tomato Commission, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and Western Growers Association as part of the Alliance for Food & Farming's program activities for 2005.
Steve Patricio, chairman of the cantaloupe board and president of Firebaugh, CA-based Westside Produce, said that the event was "a tremendous gathering that drew "powerful people in food safety.
Fresh from a tour stop of cantaloupe operations in western Fresno along the I-5 corridor, Mr. Patricio said that the tour was an opportunity for participating businesses to "distinguish how we grow, pack and ship our product. He said that central California cantaloupe growers have been involved in a collaborative process with the University of California at Davis for years on a number of fronts, including how microbials affect the crop. "There's not restrictions on the research, Mr. Patricio said.
Health officials had questions along the lines of irrigation, fertilizing and composting practices, soil selection, and water sources -- all "hot areas of food safety -- Mr. Patricio said, adding that he believes health officials came away with reduced concerns and an appreciation for the elaborate food-safety standards and practices in place in California.
Fifteen grower-packer-shippers were scheduled for a tour of Westside Produce's own cooling facility later in the day July 13.
The tour launched with a Welcome to California reception July 12 in Sacramento hosted by CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. On June 13, in addition to the tour of cantaloupe fields, health officials toured tomato fields in the San Joaquin Valley and the Gargiulo tomato packing facility.
Break-out sessions with tomato and cantaloupe growers and shippers provided health officials with information on proactive industry food safety and research activities.
Ed Beckman, president of the Fresno-based California Tomato Commission, said that after so many meetings in Washington, DC, to discuss tomato production and food-safety efforts, it was great to be able to actually show these officials what we are doing and that the tour "will help us as we work jointly and cooperatively to enhance food-safety efforts.
The tour was set to focus on lettuce production in the Salinas Valley on July 14. Salinas-based NewStar Fresh Foods was to play host to field and facility tours. Another breakout session was scheduled for lettuce growers and shippers from throughout California.
Jim Bogart, president and general counsel of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said, "Growers and shippers were very appreciative of the opportunity to discuss food safety with these officials.
The overall tour also showcased how the produce industry is working together to promote food safety. Jim Gorny, vice president of science and technology for United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, said that the success of the tour was owed in large part to broad industry support.
"When health officials saw the list of sponsoring organizations, I think they realized that this tour was something they wanted to attend and that it would be a great forum for food-safety discussions, Dr. Gorny said.
Hank Giclas, WGA's vice president of strategic planning, science and technology, said, "We were extremely pleased by the number of health officials who participated in the tour. It was gratifying to see the interest and commitment by these health officials in seeing first-hand how we grow and produce food in California.
The tour, organized by Watsonville, CA-based Alliance for Food & Farming, provided an opportunity for these officials to see first-hand how California cantaloupes, tomatoes and lettuce are grown.
Alliance Executive Director Marilyn Dolan said that the goal of the tour "was to enhance better understanding of California production practices among the health officials charged with regulating the produce industry."
Participating on the tour were representatives from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the California Department of Food & Agriculture and the California Department of Health Services, as well as Fresno and Monterey county officials.
The tour was sponsored by the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, the California Tomato Commission, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and Western Growers Association as part of the Alliance for Food & Farming's program activities for 2005.
Steve Patricio, chairman of the cantaloupe board and president of Firebaugh, CA-based Westside Produce, said that the event was "a tremendous gathering that drew "powerful people in food safety.
Fresh from a tour stop of cantaloupe operations in western Fresno along the I-5 corridor, Mr. Patricio said that the tour was an opportunity for participating businesses to "distinguish how we grow, pack and ship our product. He said that central California cantaloupe growers have been involved in a collaborative process with the University of California at Davis for years on a number of fronts, including how microbials affect the crop. "There's not restrictions on the research, Mr. Patricio said.
Health officials had questions along the lines of irrigation, fertilizing and composting practices, soil selection, and water sources -- all "hot areas of food safety -- Mr. Patricio said, adding that he believes health officials came away with reduced concerns and an appreciation for the elaborate food-safety standards and practices in place in California.
Fifteen grower-packer-shippers were scheduled for a tour of Westside Produce's own cooling facility later in the day July 13.
The tour launched with a Welcome to California reception July 12 in Sacramento hosted by CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. On June 13, in addition to the tour of cantaloupe fields, health officials toured tomato fields in the San Joaquin Valley and the Gargiulo tomato packing facility.
Break-out sessions with tomato and cantaloupe growers and shippers provided health officials with information on proactive industry food safety and research activities.
Ed Beckman, president of the Fresno-based California Tomato Commission, said that after so many meetings in Washington, DC, to discuss tomato production and food-safety efforts, it was great to be able to actually show these officials what we are doing and that the tour "will help us as we work jointly and cooperatively to enhance food-safety efforts.
The tour was set to focus on lettuce production in the Salinas Valley on July 14. Salinas-based NewStar Fresh Foods was to play host to field and facility tours. Another breakout session was scheduled for lettuce growers and shippers from throughout California.
Jim Bogart, president and general counsel of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said, "Growers and shippers were very appreciative of the opportunity to discuss food safety with these officials.
The overall tour also showcased how the produce industry is working together to promote food safety. Jim Gorny, vice president of science and technology for United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, said that the success of the tour was owed in large part to broad industry support.
"When health officials saw the list of sponsoring organizations, I think they realized that this tour was something they wanted to attend and that it would be a great forum for food-safety discussions, Dr. Gorny said.
Hank Giclas, WGA's vice president of strategic planning, science and technology, said, "We were extremely pleased by the number of health officials who participated in the tour. It was gratifying to see the interest and commitment by these health officials in seeing first-hand how we grow and produce food in California.
