Washington, DC - The United Fresh Produce Association’s popular Produce Inspection Training Program is back for four more courses, including one installment in 2008 and three in 2009. These hands-on training sessions are designed to help produce industry receivers, handlers, buyers, shippers and sellers understand the fundamentals of the produce inspection process.

The Produce Inspection Training Program, developed by the United Fresh Research & Education Foundation in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), will be held November 3-7, 2008 and January 26-30, June 1-5 and September 21-25, 2009.

The inspection training seminars provide a comprehensive overview of USDA inspection procedures and standards through lab training courses, classroom lectures and discussion sessions with USDA trainers. Upon completion of both courses, attendees receive a certificate of recognition from United Fresh and the USDA. All seminars are taught by expert USDA trainers and held at the USDA Fresh Products Branch National Inspectors’ Training and Development Center in Fredericksburg, Va.

"Understanding different grades, standards, quality and condition of produce commodities is fundamental to understanding the entire inspection process," said Victoria Backer, United Fresh Senior Vice President of Member Services. "This course provides real information, real training and real-world knowledge."

Since its inception in 2002, more than 540 industry professionals have participated in the program, with attendees consistently giving the course high marks in program evaluations. Past participant Bob Ashcraft, Distribution Quality Assurance Manager with The Kroger Co. noted, "My people at the Kroger distribution center make decisions on product shipping to over 265 stores, so the procurement staff needs quality training. This course provides them a solid review of the inspection process and principles."

"The Fresh Products Branch is pleased to continue training the produce industry," said Robert Keeney, Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, USDA-AMS. "This course enables us to maintain a good rapport between federal inspectors and the fresh produce industry, which helps create a stronger supply chain."

The Produce Inspection Training Program is divided into two specialized courses: Introduction to Produce Inspection and Advanced Produce Inspection. The two-day introductory course is a prerequisite of the advanced course and focuses on inspection fundamentals, general market principles, PACA and an introduction to the FV 300 Inspection Certificate.

The three-day advanced course is an intense training program focusing on the different types of inspections (quality, condition, size, etc.,) sampling procedures, marketing orders and import requirements, advanced FV 300 training and commodity-specific instruction tailored to meet participants’ preferences indicated in a pre-program survey. Each advanced course will include the five most commonly requested commodities: Grapes, Lettuces, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes. In addition to these five, each course will be customized with up to 10 additional commodities based on the attendees’ most common preferences.

The following course options are available in 2008 and 2009:

November 3-4, 2008 Introduction to Produce Inspection (2 days)

November 5-7, 2008 Advanced Produce Inspection Training (3 days)

January 26-27, 2009 Introduction to Produce Inspection (2 days)

January 28-30, 2009 Advanced Produce Inspection Training (3 days)

June 1-2, 2009 Introduction to Produce Inspection (2 days)

June 3-5, 2009 Advanced Produce Inspection Training (3 days)

September 21-22, 2009 Introduction to Produce Inspection (2 days)

September 23-25, 2009 Advanced Produce Inspection Training (3 days)

Attendees may register for the training seminars on the United Fresh website at http://www.unitedfresh.org/ or by contacting Beth Berman, Education Manager, at (202) 303-3400 ext 405 or bberman@unitedfresh.org. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-served registration basis. For United Fresh members, the registration fee for the introductory course is $875; the advanced course is $1195. If both courses are taken together, members may register at the discounted rate of $1875. For non-members, the prices are $1075, $1395 and $2275, respectively. Seminar registration fees include training seminars and all course materials.

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