Coalition to work on strengthening food safety practices
The Yuma County and Bard-Winterhaven leafy green growers have had enough of the endless media attention and misinformation caused by the March romaine lettuce incident.
The Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association and the Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee have established the Desert Food Safety Coalition to bring together area agricultural industry groups to work together on strengthening food safety practices in the desert southwest.
The objectives of the new group are to examine food safety practices currently used by industry personnel and workers in phases of the field to table process on current food safety best management practices.
DFSC will be a proactive force of industry individuals that seek to further educate and engage in open discussion on food safety issues impacting the desert southwest. Using science based industry research they will conduct trainings and utilize information campaigns to bring agricultural partners aware of their role in keeping the leafy green industry the safest and most progressive in the nation.
Community outreach will be a regular part of the Desert Food Safety Coalition’s program by presenting forums where the local community cannot only ask questions concerning the safety of their greens but to actually see demonstrations of the practices followed by the agricultural industry.
The purpose is to promote consumer confidence in the local agricultural industry and give residents facts with which to explain to others the health and safety of the vegetable crops grown in Yuma.
Continuing during the information and education purpose of DFSC, science-based research will be continuously seeking answers to the existing food safety issues facing the leafy greens industry. This will also allow for rapid response to new issues and proactive actions to reduce the potential for new problems.
A series of educational and interactive lectures, workshops and best management practice demonstrations will be held to build on the existing food safety knowledge of residents with an emphasis on local topics including the recent romaine lettuce issues.
Participants can choose to join focus groups to address identified needs. Regular updates on research activities will be presented and discussed.
Print materials, social media and a planned speakers bureau will engage our consumers and communities in food safety activities.