United Fresh Endorses California Leafy Greens Initiative
January 26, 2007
In a letter to California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, United Fresh President Tom Stenzel said that industry compliance with the standards to be proposed under the marketing agreement would be an important immediate step to assuring the public that the California leafy greens industry is taking all appropriate measures to provide the safest possible foods. He emphasized that the United Fresh scientific and technical team has been working to assist the California leafy greens industry in the preparation of strong and measurable food safety metrics that will be at the core of the marketing agreement. Stenzel also explained how support for both the California leafy greens agreement and national uniform standards for produce safety are complementary. "As we discussed personally at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee meeting in Washington, DC on January 23, our association is also committed to work toward consistent and mandatory produce safety standards at the federal level to provide the greatest possible assurance to the public, and an equitable regulatory framework for produce regardless of production region, both within the United States and from imports outside of the country. The standards being developed for lettuce and leafy greens in California are a major step in that direction, and we look forward to continuing to work with CDFA and our member companies in California to promote adoption of these standards." To listen to an interview on Southern California Public Radio with Tom Stenzel and Western Growers Vice President Tim Chelling discussing the new marketing agreement, please click here. (Media Player or Real One Player required. The interview follows an introductory advertisement)
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
