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California Growers Launch Produce Safety Plan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. California's leafy greens industry last week began implementing the Leafy Green Handler Marketing Agreement, a grower-level food safety program geared toward regaining consumer confidence lost last year when an E. coli outbreak sickened hundreds of consumers of fresh spinach. With procedures developed during the past several months by groups including the California Farm Bureau,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California's leafy greens industry last week began implementing the Leafy Green Handler Marketing Agreement, a grower-level food safety program geared toward regaining consumer confidence lost last year when an E. coli outbreak sickened hundreds of consumers of fresh spinach.

With procedures developed during the past several months by groups including the California Farm Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, food safety experts from the University of California system and several trade associations, the agreement has been signed by every major producer of leafy green commodities in the state. It will require processors and other handlers to accept greens only from farmers who undergo the program's initial audit, and then follow safety procedures including tool sanitation, regular soil and water testing, and other measures, which will be enforced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

“We believe this agreement can serve as a model for the nation in our quest to enhance the food safety standards in this country,” Tom Nassif, president of the Western Growers Association, said in a release. “The events of last September were a watershed event for our industry. This is an ongoing effort, and while we are gratified to see the work to date come to fruition, we are not resting but continuing to work aggressively to proceed with the next steps in the food safety campaign.”

The National Restaurant Association became the first major trade association outside the agriculture industry to endorse the program, and producers of bagged salads are hoping that a new “safety seal” associated with the agreement will help regain consumer trust when it begins appearing on packages during the coming months.

“Our farmers and other professionals who grow and ship fresh produce have worked diligently to respond to this crisis with substantial and effective means to combat E. coli and other threats to our food supply,” Nassif said. “This Marketing Agreement represents … a major milestone in the enhancement of food safety.”