Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, has been appointed to serve on the board of directors of the Alliance for Food and Farming during the organisation’s board meeting held this month.

“We feel fortunate to have someone of Bryan’s calibre on the board,” said Matt McInerney, of Western Growers, and Alliance vice chairman. “We have greatly valued PMA’s long-standing support of this organisation and we look forward to having Bryan join us in guiding the efforts of the Alliance for Food and Farming.”

The Alliance was formed in 1989 to educate the public about food safety and production issues. It is comprised of approximately 60 agricultural groups representing a wide range of organisations including commodity boards, major farm groups, and individual growers and shippers.

“In the 20 years since its inception, the Alliance has become a leader in informing consumers everywhere about agriculture’s food safety, crop production, and farming practices,” said Silbermann. “I am looking forward to working together with other industry leaders to accomplish the goals of the Alliance through increased public awareness.”

MEANS TESTING THE INDUSTRY

Kathy Means, vice president of government relations at Produce Marketing Association (PMA), briefed the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) on food safety and the unfolding of the recent spinach E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak at its meeting on October 17.

Her presentation included the initial consumer advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), government action, the produce industry’s reaction and response, and findings from PMA’s consumer surveys.

The first survey was taken immediately after the outbreak was made public in September and the second was taken in October.

PMA has played a prominent role throughout the food safety crisis and has held industry-wide meetings and led a coalition of produce associations in developing an industry response and recovery plan.

“Research gathered by PMA immediately following the outbreak showed that 55 per cent of surveyed consumers are still confident in the safety of fresh produce,” said Means.

“The produce industry is continuing to work diligently to increase consumer confidence in spinach for the health of the general public as well as the health and strength of our industry.”

INSPECTION FEES INCREASE

In the December 1 Federal Register, the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued a proposed rule that would revise the regulations governing the inspection and certification for fresh produce by increasing certain fees charged for the inspection of these products at destination markets for the next two fiscal years by approximately 15 per cent.

These revisions are necessary to recover the cost of performing inspections under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.