The US-based Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) has issued a call for growers, researchers, state officials, produce industry experts and others interested in produce safety to join an Alliance working committee.
The committee members will assist in the development of a national Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) education curriculum focused on understanding and implementing fresh fruit and vegetable food safety practices, according to a PSA press release.
The Alliance is a broad-based partnership charged with developing a national education and training programme for farmers, packers, and regulatory personnel of fresh produce in anticipation of a new produce safety rule from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Alliance has created 10 working committees, each focused on a specific aspect of produce safety, ranging from production and post-harvest handling issues related to risk assessment and preventive practices through food safety plan writing to certification-related activities.
“It is in our best interest to cast a wide net to encourage broad participation in order to obtain the best information, scientific knowledge, and in-the-field experience available to inform these efforts,” said Betsy Bihn, project director of the Alliance.
The website is one key information and outreach vehicle, but it is our intention to use various communications channels to inform and engage all interested stakeholders, according to PSA.
“By collaborating with other experts in the field, the Alliance will review existing GAPs educational and instructional materials, seek to identify and fill any areas where information is lacking, and then develop and continuously update multi-formatted education programs on food safety, as well as how to co-manage for food safety and environmental concerns,” added Ms Bihn.
Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Foods, said the Alliance has set an “ambitious agenda”.
“Tapping into the expertise and experience of farmers, researchers, and food safety professionals for these working committees will be key to its success,” he noted.
PSA also announced in the press release the official launch of its website.
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