Future of food safety discussed at Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association
Farmers, researchers and politicians gathered on Dec. 3 at the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association annual luncheon to commend those who have helped Yuma’s agriculture industry and to talk about food safety.
The keynote speaker for the event was Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for Food Policy and Response for the Food and Drug Administration. His speech focused on the changes to the methods of ensuring food safety, which he sees as part of a “new era in food safety.”
“When I say a new era, know that those words are selected with intention,” Yiannas said. “At the FDA, we’re embarking on new experiences within the world of food safety.”
Yiannas highlighted several ways that the FDA, farmers and food retailers prevent outbreaks like the 2018 outbreak of E. coli in romaine lettuce that was traced back to Yuma.
Yiannas noted farmers, retailers and oversight agencies creating a food safety culture, using smarter tools, testing new business models and trying to modernize retail spaces to improve food safety, but more than anything else, he emphasized the importance of the ability to trace where produce has been and where it comes from and the ability to use that information to trace the source of disease.
“The lack of traceability has cost us,” he said. “We can blame a lack of traceability for a bad response to the 2006 outbreak of E.coli in spinach. In 2008, when there was a salmonella outbreak, first we heard it was the tomatoes that were bad, then we heard it might be the jalapenos.”
Yiannas said that more cooperation, especially in the form of sharing information among the farmers, retailers and everyone else involved in getting produce from farms to the consumers like distribution centers generates a quicker and more effective response from administrations responding to outbreaks. Food safety, Yiannas said, affects the entire agricultural industry and should be considered by everyone in the industry.
“We’re all in this together,” he said. “People won’t differentiate your romaine and my romaine. When an outbreak happens, people stop buying all the romaine from all the stores.”
The event also included announcements of upcoming events and awards for people who work in Yuma’s agricultural industry.
Kristan Sheppeard from Limelight Creative Group announced the continuation of several events like the Latino Farmers Symposium at the Southwest Agriculture Summit, which will be on Feb. 26. The YFVA’s Harvest Dinner will take place on Feb. 27.
Sheppeard also announced the continuation of the Go Ag program, a campaign to support, inform and attract high school students who want to pursue an education and career in agriculture. Likewise, the Labor of Love program will continue, which supports farmers through gift giving and events.
The luncheon also included several awards for people have worked in the local agricultural industry.
Among those honored were Steve Alameda, one of the board members of YFVA who was recognized for his hard work and leadership, and Kevin Ford, whom many of the attendees took time to praise and remember for his character and intellect before his death in May.
YFVA attorney Shelly Tunis gave a history and update on laws regarding pesticide regulation. Historically, pesticide regulations have been impractical for farmers since regulation began, Tunis said. She gave special recognition to Mark Killian as an Arizona state representative and director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture for the change to more farmerfriendly regulations.
The Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association focuses on creating discussion and collaboration among farmers in Yuma. The annual meeting is a chance to update people in the agricultural industry and to offer them a chance to interact.
“I’m glad I was able to participate,” said Barry Tinkus, a regional agriculture agent for the University of Arizona Agriculture extension who presented an award for his coworker, Mike Matheron. “This is the best community to work in for agriculture. It’s like the silicon valley for agriculture.”