USDA Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee to meet next month
USDA Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee to meet next month
WASHINGTON -- The farm bill and food safety issues are just two of the issues on the agenda for the Jan. 23-24 meeting of the USDA's Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee here.
Originally chartered in 2001, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns named 25 produce industry members to serve two-year terms on the committee earlier this year. Committee members represent fresh fruit and vegetable growers-shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, brokers and state departments of agriculture.
"The USDA Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee provides an important forum for the produce industry to discuss our priorities," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy.
The two-day session, which is open to the public, is scheduled to discuss invasive pests and disease initiatives; labor and immigration issues; budget and fee changes under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act; and food safety initiatives.
At the last meeting in June, the committee voted to form four working groups that would draft recommendations on PACA budget and fees, upcoming farm bill policies, trade issues and food safety audits. Some members of the committee expressed concern about the need to harmonize standards for buyer-requested food safety audits, an issue that has become increasingly important after the latest lettuce and spinach outbreaks.
The group is expected to discuss these recommendations at the upcoming meeting.
Originally chartered in 2001, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns named 25 produce industry members to serve two-year terms on the committee earlier this year. Committee members represent fresh fruit and vegetable growers-shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, brokers and state departments of agriculture.
"The USDA Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee provides an important forum for the produce industry to discuss our priorities," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy.
The two-day session, which is open to the public, is scheduled to discuss invasive pests and disease initiatives; labor and immigration issues; budget and fee changes under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act; and food safety initiatives.
At the last meeting in June, the committee voted to form four working groups that would draft recommendations on PACA budget and fees, upcoming farm bill policies, trade issues and food safety audits. Some members of the committee expressed concern about the need to harmonize standards for buyer-requested food safety audits, an issue that has become increasingly important after the latest lettuce and spinach outbreaks.
The group is expected to discuss these recommendations at the upcoming meeting.
