Sludge Watch ==> State Board of Ag discusses Lessons from Leafy Greens on Apr 25

[Maureen Reilly]

State Board of Agriculture schedules food safety session in Monterey
20.apr.07
Fresh Plaza
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=395


As growers along California's Central Coast harvest spinach and other leafy 
greens this spring, California's State Board of Food and Agriculture will 
host a session in Monterey to take stock of last year's E.Coli contamination 
and the response and research activities that have followed. The event will 
take place on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Hilton 
Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Road, in Monterey.

"I am heartened by the agricultural community's response to last year's E. 
Coli outbreak," said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "Members of this industry 
are contributing millions of dollars and thousands of hours of effort and 
training to create the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA), and they 
have also invested millions of dollars in research to advance the science of 
food safety."
Earlier this month, Kawamura joined other members of the agriculture 
industry and the research community to announce the creation of the new 
Center for Produce Safety at the University of California, Davis. The launch 
was made possible by a $2 million donation from the Produce Marketing 
Association (PMA) and the individual commitment of $2 million cash by Taylor 
Farms of Salinas, California. Taylor Farms also has pledged to contribute $1 
million in research already planned by the company. These donations will be 
augmented by $200,000 in in-kind and cash contributions from the Western 
Growers Association, $500,000 from the California Department of Food and 
Agriculture and $150,000 from the Division of Agriculture and Natural 
Resources, the outreach arm of the University of California.

At the April 25 session, newly appointed LGMA Chairman Joe Pezzini is 
scheduled to deliver a presentation on how the "Good Agricultural Practices" 
will be enforced and how this new inspection program will impact the 
industry. The day's schedule also includes a report on food safety research 
by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Microbiologist Abasiofiok 
Mark Ibekwe, Ph.D.
Regulatory and response efforts will be discussed by panelists representing 
the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, the California Dairy 
Quality Assurance Program, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. 
Grower perspectives will be presented by representatives of The Kroger 
Company, Fresh Express, EKT Farms, NSF Davis Fresh Technology, the 
California Strawberry Commission, and West Side Produce.

"It is our responsibility as farmers, and as responsible citizens of 
California, to respond with due diligence when public health is at risk," 
said Al Montna, president of the State Board of Food and Agriculture. "This 
session on food safety is a timely opportunity to take stock of the efforts 
of the many growers, researchers and regulators who all must be involved in 
keeping our food supply safe."
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and 
secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and 
consumer needs. The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, 
and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens 
to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

All California State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the 
media and general public.