United Fresh, the Western Growers Association, the Grower Shipper Association of Central California, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, the Produce Marketing Association and the California Leafy Greens Research Board have joined in an effort to urge their California and Arizona grower members to join the Produce Industry Microbiological Testing Database.  The Database, which is currently collecting 2007 generic E. coli testing results for irrigation water in California and Arizona growing regions, is intended to confidentially aggregate growers’ test results into a database that can demonstrate the overall microbiological quality of irrigation water in those growing regions. There is no cost for growers to participate, but the Database holds huge potential benefits. By using the collected data to refute speculations about contaminated irrigation water, the Database can provide a scientific basis for better water testing metrics and demonstrate progress in Good Agricultural Practices. For more information, or if your company is testing irrigation water in California or Arizona and have not yet signed up to participate, contact Dr. David Gombas, United Fresh senior vice president of food safety and technology at 202-303-3400 ext. 411.