A group of some 50 US fresh produce industry leaders from every stage of the supply chain have come together to begin work on a major initiative to drive harmonization of standards and audits for Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).
The group was convened following widespread interest in harmonization voiced by industry leaders at the Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards held in conjunction with the United Fresh Produce Association convention in April.
The Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative is led by a steering committee chaired by Brian Kocher, president of Chiquita Brands North America. A number of industry leaders participated in a conference call web meeting on August 18 to discuss the concept of GAP harmonization and a draft process to launch the initiative.
Since that time, a wide cross-section of produce grower-shippers, processors, distributors, foodservice operators, retailers and association representatives came together to express their support for the effort, and join the steering committee which held its first meeting September 22 in Atlanta.
“Produce business leaders clearly raised this need for harmonized GAP standards,” Mr Kocher said. “This effort addresses one of our most important challenges – the proliferation of audits and standards that do nothing to improve overall food safety yet contribute to duplication, inefficiency and add unnecessary costs to consumers. Tackling that challenge will require the participation of the industry as a whole, and I’m excited about the initial participation thus far.”
At the meeting in Atlanta, steering committee members agreed on a vision and work plan for the effort, reinforcing its commitment to a totally open and transparent process that welcomes all industry players to participate.
“Our vision is to ensure the highest level of food safety protection for our consumers by ensuring that science-based GAP standards address the most critical prevention steps necessary, that the industry develop and embrace audits and checklists that are consistent in measuring these practices, and that these tools allow for rigorous independent validation. Our goal is that one audit by any credible third party can be acceptable to all buyers,” Mr Kocher said.
As a next step, under direction established by the steering committee of business leaders, a broad technical working group will now be convened under the leadership of Suresh Decosta, McDonald’s Corporation, and Dr David Gombas, senior vice-president for food safety and technology of United Fresh Produce Association.
The technical working group will be open to all participants across the industry who are willing to join in the effort to develop harmonized GAP standards. This is intended to be a broadly inclusive group of technical, QA, and food safety experts across the industry, ensuring representation of all points of view in its deliberations.
The technical working group will begin its efforts examining similarities and differences in all existing GAP standards in use, with a goal toward identifying specific areas of current alignment, and those areas requiring further work to get to a harmonized approach. Ultimately, the working group will develop a consensus-based harmonized GAP standard for proposal back to the steering committee for review.
In looking ahead, both buyers and suppliers of produce on the steering committee agreed that for the ultimate outcome to be successful, a GAP standard must be globally recognized through a credible third-party auditing process, but also must be non proprietary and available to all producers and others for use in self audits and improving practices throughout the entire industry.
In addition, the standard must clearly be based on the best science available and a risk-based approach that reflects US government public health regulation and guidance.
The first meeting of the technical working group will likely be scheduled in November.
Harmonization of Produce Food Safety Standards
Steering Committee Members
(As of October 9, 2009)
Steering Committee Chairman: Brian Kocher, Chiquita Fresh North America
Technical Working Group Chairman: Suresh Decosta, McDonalds Corporation
Project Coordinator: Dr David Gombas, United Fresh Produce Association
Grower-Shipper-Processor
Mark Bataska Sun World International
Tony DiMare DiMare Company
Barry Eisenberg River Ranch Fresh Foods
Bob Elliot Sunkist Growers
J.D. Grubb C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Brian Kocher Chiquita Fresh North America
Jim Lemke C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Tom Lovelace McEntire Produce
Tom Mack Dole Food Company
Bob Mills Tanimura & Antle
Gurmail Mudahar Tanimura & Antle
Walter Ram The Giumarra Companies
Steffanie Smith River Point Farms
Brian Stepien Green Giant Fresh
Bill Schuler Castellini Company
Kari Valdes River Ranch Fresh Foods
Tom Young Del Monte Fresh Produce
Foodservice
Scott Brooks Yum Brands
Suresh Decosta McDonald’s Corporation
Steve Grinstead Pro*Act
Jorge Hernandez U.S. Foodservice
Ana Hooper Darden Restaurants
Anne Marie McNamara Jack in the Box
Mark Mignogna Sysco Corporation
Phil Penny Pro*Act
Mitch Smith McDonald’s Corporation
Mike Spinazzola Subway
Tim York Markon
Retail
Dave Corsi Wegmans
Bob Frappier Ahold
Reggie Griffin Kroger
Roger Harkrider H.E.B.
Mahipal Kunduru Safeway
Jerry Noland Safeway
Mike O’Brien Schnucks
Michael Roberson Publix
Rodrigo Santibanez Walmart
Randy Scott Food Lion
Dave Wiemer Supervalu
Craig Wilson Costco Wholesale
Frank Yiannas Walmart
Association Staff
Bob Blakely California Citrus Mutual
Reggie Brown Florida Tomato
Nancy Foster US Apple Association
Charles Hall Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
John Keeling National Potato Council
John McClung Texas Produce Association
Matt McInerney Western Growers
Bob Morrissey National Watermelon Association
Laura Phelps American Mushroom Institute
Chris Schlect Northwest Horticultural Council
Bryan Silbermann Produce Marketing Association
Tom Stenzel United Fresh Produce Association
Mike Stuart Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
Chris Valadez California Grape and Tree Fruit League
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