Food safety, upcoming elections to shape United's WPPC conference
Food safety, upcoming elections to shape United's WPPC conference
WASHINGTON -- With Congress and the White House poised to change after November, this year's Washington Public Policy Conference comes at a critical time as Congress and the next administration -- no matter who wins -- are likely to change food-safety regulations.
"Any election year is important, but this one is mega important for the produce industry," said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the United Fresh Produce Association, which hosts a Washington lobbying blitz every September.
There will be a major change in the administration, and Congress is likely to become more Democratic, "so it's an important time to deliver our message to politicians and to lay the groundwork for the next four to eight years," he said.
With the latest Salmonella outbreak fresh in everyone's minds, one of the top issues will be food safety. This year, more than 300 United Fresh members will be meeting with either congressional staff or U.S. Food & Drug Administration officials, both of which will be shaping food-safety regulations in the near future.
At least 150 people have signed up for a town hall meeting that focuses on a question-and-answer format with FDA officials.
It is a chance for the produce industry to get a glimpse into FDA's current thinking about produce regulation, said Mr. Stenzel.
This comes as FDA announced Sept. 2 that it is seeking comment on changing the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. FDA said that it is asking for scientific data on measures and technological advances that would improve the agency's current good agricultural practices guidelines.
Reopening the guidelines represents a "roadmap for changing regulation," said Mr. Stenzel, who pointed to FDA's increasing scrutiny of the document as evidence the agency is moving towards tightening food-safety regulations.
Every year, United Fresh plans a meeting in Washington, where association members can hear the latest news from members of Congress, attend workshops and get the opportunity to roam the halls of Congress to meet with Congress and staff. This year, at least 130 offices are targeted by United Fresh to lobby on a wide range of issues, such as food safety, immigration reform, the upcoming child nutrition law reauthorization and farm bill implementation.
U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the powerful House Agriculture Committee, will deliver the opening keynote address and reflect on lessons learned from guiding the historic farm bill through Congress earlier this year.
Rep. Peterson played a critical role in passing a bill that brought more than $1 billion to the specialty crop industry bundled for the first time in a stand- alone title and promised expanded research, grants and trade programs. He also will discuss his push to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an initiative that could offer opportunities for the fruit and vegetable industry.
Another influential leader on Capitol Hill - U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) - will speak to attendees at the Sept. 12 breakfast session on her passions: tightening food-safety regulations and boosting nutrition programs.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who played a critical role in pushing for specialty crop provisions in the farm bill, also will speak at the Washington meeting.
With the elections looming, United Fresh is replacing its annual White House briefing with a new event that allows attendees to discuss export issues with representatives from the embassies of Mexico, the European Union or Australia, said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy.
It is an opportunity for United Fresh members to come to Washington to talk about international issues, he said.
United Fresh will open the meeting Sept. 10 with its widely popular Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill, where 18 exhibitors, including for the first time seven exhibitors from state departments of agriculture, will get a chance to thank Congress for the farm bill and show off their fresh produce products.
With the presidential election dominating Washington news, this year's conference will include a new session: a presidential debate between representatives of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ).
The spirited debate will center not only on agriculture issues but on legislative matters important to small businesses, including tax and trade policies, said Mr. Guenther.
"Any election year is important, but this one is mega important for the produce industry," said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the United Fresh Produce Association, which hosts a Washington lobbying blitz every September.
There will be a major change in the administration, and Congress is likely to become more Democratic, "so it's an important time to deliver our message to politicians and to lay the groundwork for the next four to eight years," he said.
With the latest Salmonella outbreak fresh in everyone's minds, one of the top issues will be food safety. This year, more than 300 United Fresh members will be meeting with either congressional staff or U.S. Food & Drug Administration officials, both of which will be shaping food-safety regulations in the near future.
At least 150 people have signed up for a town hall meeting that focuses on a question-and-answer format with FDA officials.
It is a chance for the produce industry to get a glimpse into FDA's current thinking about produce regulation, said Mr. Stenzel.
This comes as FDA announced Sept. 2 that it is seeking comment on changing the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. FDA said that it is asking for scientific data on measures and technological advances that would improve the agency's current good agricultural practices guidelines.
Reopening the guidelines represents a "roadmap for changing regulation," said Mr. Stenzel, who pointed to FDA's increasing scrutiny of the document as evidence the agency is moving towards tightening food-safety regulations.
Every year, United Fresh plans a meeting in Washington, where association members can hear the latest news from members of Congress, attend workshops and get the opportunity to roam the halls of Congress to meet with Congress and staff. This year, at least 130 offices are targeted by United Fresh to lobby on a wide range of issues, such as food safety, immigration reform, the upcoming child nutrition law reauthorization and farm bill implementation.
U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the powerful House Agriculture Committee, will deliver the opening keynote address and reflect on lessons learned from guiding the historic farm bill through Congress earlier this year.
Rep. Peterson played a critical role in passing a bill that brought more than $1 billion to the specialty crop industry bundled for the first time in a stand- alone title and promised expanded research, grants and trade programs. He also will discuss his push to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an initiative that could offer opportunities for the fruit and vegetable industry.
Another influential leader on Capitol Hill - U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) - will speak to attendees at the Sept. 12 breakfast session on her passions: tightening food-safety regulations and boosting nutrition programs.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who played a critical role in pushing for specialty crop provisions in the farm bill, also will speak at the Washington meeting.
With the elections looming, United Fresh is replacing its annual White House briefing with a new event that allows attendees to discuss export issues with representatives from the embassies of Mexico, the European Union or Australia, said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy.
It is an opportunity for United Fresh members to come to Washington to talk about international issues, he said.
United Fresh will open the meeting Sept. 10 with its widely popular Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill, where 18 exhibitors, including for the first time seven exhibitors from state departments of agriculture, will get a chance to thank Congress for the farm bill and show off their fresh produce products.
With the presidential election dominating Washington news, this year's conference will include a new session: a presidential debate between representatives of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ).
The spirited debate will center not only on agriculture issues but on legislative matters important to small businesses, including tax and trade policies, said Mr. Guenther.
