http:\/\/www.thepacker.com\/fruit-vegetable-news\/California-growers-back-mandatory-cantaloupe-food-safety-151781935.html<\/p>\n
In the wake of a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes from another state, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is establishing the state\u2019s first mandatory food safety program implemented by a commodity board.<\/p>\n
The group is also expanding its territory statewide.<\/p>\n
\u201cImperial Valley growers have not been part of the board before,\u201d John Gilstrap, California Cantaloupe Advisory Board manager, said May 16. The previous order was limited to fruit grown north and west of San Gorgonio Pass in Riverside County.<\/p>\n
About 65 ballots went to handlers. More than 70% were returned, Gilstrap said, with unanimous approval of the food safety program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re still working on the actual details,\u201d he said. \u201cA guidance document is being reviewed right now for discussion at the next board meeting May 31 in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among details to be ironed out are assessments and audits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have existing assessments and revenue we can convert to food safety,\u201d said Steve Patricio, board chairman. \u201cThere will be an additional assessment, probably as high as two cents a carton.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inspections will likely be from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the intent is to make it as seamless and effective as possible by piggybacking on what is already being done by (Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement) and California Tomato Farmers,\u201d Patricio said. \u201cWe\u2019re not reinventing a wheel here. LGMA is using USDA-trained inspectors under supervision of CDFA. We\u2019ll be using those same food safety inspectors for cantaloupes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He expects a program to be implemented this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of us have been working on this privately for years with our own food safety programs,\u201d Patricio said. \u201cTo have government auditors come in, it\u2019ll be wrinkles of change but not monumental.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southern district cantaloupes have begun shipping.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the late start and the slowness of getting government involved, we can\u2019t penalize growers,\u201d he said. \u201cWe could start doing no-penalty risk assessment audits, but I hope we don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA whole lot of questions are still to be answered, but quite a bit of the work has already been done in terms of research and putting together a guidance document,” Gilstrap said.<\/p>\n
Desert production runs through early July. Bakersfield starts in late June; Huron, early July. San Joaquin Valley production runs to early October. Imperial Valley returns for a second deal in the fall. The state accounts for about 70% of cantaloupe production nationwide.<\/p>\n
Expansion<\/p>\n
With the formation of a new desert district, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will appoint members and alternates from nominations received at public hearings in March.<\/p>\n
Noncompliance with the coming food safety metrics would amount to an unfair trade practice, according to the CDFA.<\/p>\n
\u201cCDFA has provided oversight for a very similar program involving leafy greens for the past five years,\u201d Karen Ross, CDFA secretary, said in a news release. \u201cWe know first-hand how effective these types of programs can be. There is clearly overwhelming support among the California cantaloupe industry for a food safety program that operates with government oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim York, president of Salinas-based Markon Cooperative, also welcomed the vote, and referred to the listeria outbreak traced to Jensen Farms, Granada, Colo.<\/p>\n
\u201cProduce buyers across the country should support the efforts of suppliers who are willing to provide the additional assurances we have been asking for in light of last fall\u2019s listeria outbreak associated with Jensen Farms cantaloupe,\u201d York said in the release.<\/p>\n
California cantaloupes have never been associated with a foodborne illness, Patricio said.<\/p>\n
Dinuba-based Monfort Management Inc., provides management services for the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/www.thepacker.com\/fruit-vegetable-news\/California-growers-back-mandatory-cantaloupe-food-safety-151781935.html In the wake of a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes from another state, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is establishing the state\u2019s first mandatory food safety program implemented by a commodity board. The group is also expanding its territory … Continue reading