Lessons Learned from the Colorado Outbreak

May 23, 2012

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

(Lunch will be provided)

Tift County Extension Office

1468 Carpenter Road South

Tifton, GA

No matter the size of your operation, cantaloupe producers have felt the devastating market hit with food born illness outbreaks across the nation in recent months and years. The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is actively participating in industry initiatives to find and implement new research, pathogen detection methods, and even simply improve best management practices for cantaloupe growers.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012, GFVGA is hosting a half-day workshop for cantaloupe growers, shippers, and packers to learn about the initiatives being taken by the U.S. cantaloupe industry, lessons we can learn from the 2011 Colorado outbreak, as well as practical measures that can to help reduce the risk of potential food borne illnesses.

Click here to register for the event.

The agenda for the day is:

9:00 a.m.       Arrival – coffee, etc

9:30 a.m.       Intro and Welcome

Beth Oleson, GFVGA

9:35 a.m.       Cantaloupe Update Guidelines

Martha Roberts, University of Florida

10:00 a.m.     Intro to Good Agriculture Practices for Cantaloupe

Keith Schneider, FSHN, University of Florida

10:30 a.m.     What Happened in Colorado? Lessons we can learn

Michelle Danyluk, Citrus Research and Education Center

11:30 a.m.     Questions/Answers – Networking

Beth Oleson, GFVGA

Lunch – sponsored by Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

1:00 p.m.       Adjourn

For more information, contact Beth Oleson at bbland@asginfo.net. For the purpose of our lunch count, please call 1-877-994-3842 or email  info@gfvga.org to let us know how many from your organization will be attending.

Click here to register for the event.

Committee review and debate will begin on Wednesday, April 25 at 9:00 AM. Listed below are some of the highlights of the Farm Bill proposal that affect our growers; however, there are several key elements yet to be reviewed and analyzed by the Alliance. We will keep you informed as more information is available to be shared.

ACTION ITEM – IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

GFVGA asks you to make contact (via fax, email or call) with Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA), and other US Senators that serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and ask them to support the Specialty Crop provisions that have been included in the committee proposal. A sample letter is below the highlights.

Highlights of the released legislative language for the 2012 Farm Bill:

Block Grants:

• $70 million per year which expands the baseline by $15 million per year
• Base grants for all states goes up from $183,000 to $233,000
• The new distribution formula includes both value and acres for the remaining funding (approx $53 million).
• Multi-State grants are included with ramps up from $1 million in FY13 to $5 million FY17.

Pest and Disease:

• $60 million FY13-16 ($10 million increase)
• $65 million FY 17 (15 million increase)
• Combines Clean Plant Network with pest and disease, language clearly carves out under 10201.

Specialty Crop Research Initiative:

• $25 million FY13; $30 million FY14 and FY15; $65 million FY16 and $50 million for FY17 and establishes permanent baseline
• Have tied SCRI to requiring “consultation” with NAREE Specialty Crop Committee.
• A 10% waiver or matching waiver was not included

Trade:

• MAP fully funded $200 million
• TASC fully funded $9 million

Nutrition:

• Fully funds Fruit and Vegetable Fresh Snack program ($150 million per year)

SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR

(Please reprint adding your personal information and put on your company or individual letterhead)

Dear Senator ___________________________ :

I live in ______city, state________ and __(include info on your farm/business -’ I grow ___ acres of product’ or ‘I supply seeds to our vegetable growers, etc’ I appreciate the support and leadership you have provided to our fruit and vegetable growers over the years.

Under your leadership (this is true with Chambliss – may not be with other senators -edit accordingly) our industry made significant progress in the 2008 Farm Bill on policy affecting specialty crops. The 2008 Farm Bill was a landmark in how the federal government addresses the crops that account for nearly half the total farm gate value in this country.

As you, and your other Senate Agriculture Committee colleagues, begin debate this week on the provisions of the 2012 Farm Bill, it is critical to maintain the historic specialty crop program achievements started in the 2008 Farm Bill. I am very pleased the preliminary 2012 language released by the Agriculture Committee late last week included increased funding for Block Grants, providing base line funding for the SCRI, increased funding for the pest and disease prevention agencies, such as APHIS and full funding of the fresh fruit and vegetable snack program. These programs are critical to helping maintain a competitive specialty crop industry.

Thank you again for all of your hard work and dedicated support of our specialty crop industry.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

This educational conference is designed for those who are interested in knowing about the General and Technical Requirements of the PrimusGFS Certification Standard. This question-by-question format will provide information needed to deepen your understanding of the audit checklist requirements as well as provide insight as to if this is the best system for your operation.

This seminar will also include an OPTIONAL 4th day Auditor Training for an additional price. This training will be held either April 2nd or 3rd in Tifton. Location specifics have yet to be decided. To get your name on the list for this training and the 3 day seminar, submit a registration form below.

Primus GFS is a private scheme owned by Azzule that establishes food safety requirements for the certification of agricultural products at a world-wide level. The PrimusGFS scheme covers the supply chain from pre-to post- farm gate production. This training seminar will examine in detail the three defined fundamental areas that an agricultural company must consider at the moment of producing or manufacturing products.

Space is limited to 15 people. SOLD OUT
Pricing:
GFVGA Member = $400/individual
Non-GFVGA Member = $750/individual

Click here to view and complete the PrimusGFS Registration form. Upon completing the form, please attach it to an email and send to stankersley@asginfo.net or fax to 706-883-8215, attn: Samantha.
Click here to view the PrimusGFS Training Seminar Schedule of Events

This educational conference is designed for those who are interested in knowing about the General and Technical Requirements of the PrimusGFS Certification Standard. This question-by-question format will provide information needed to deepen your understanding of the audit checklist requirements as well as provide insight as to if this is the best system for your operation.

This seminar will also include an OPTIONAL 4th day Auditor Training for an additional price. This training will be held either April 2nd or 3rd in Tifton. Location specifics have yet to be decided. To get your name on the list for this training and the 3 day seminar, submit a registration form below.

Primus GFS is a private scheme owned by Azzule that establishes food safety requirements for the certification of agricultural products at a world-wide level. The PrimusGFS scheme covers the supply chain from pre-to post- farm gate production. This training seminar will examine in detail the three defined fundamental areas that an agricultural company must consider at the moment of producing or manufacturing products.

Space is limited to 15 people.
Pricing:
GFVGA Member = $400/individual
Non-GFVGA Member = $750/individual

Click here to view and complete the PrimusGFS Registration form. Upon completing the form, please attach it to an email and send to bbland@asginfo.net or fax it to 706-883-8215, attn: Beth or Samantha.
Click here to view the PrimusGFS Training Seminar Schedule of Events

The North American Produce Transportation Working Group (NAPTWG) has released best practice guidelines for the transportation of produce. The document integrates multiple existing transportation guidelines into one best practices document that can be used throughout North America to provide guidance for seamless product movement and to ensure the ongoing vitality of the carrier sector. The guidelines were reviewed and endorsed by the Blue Book and the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) to ensure compliance with industry trading guidelines for North America.

The 25-member NAPTWG represents fresh produce transportation stakeholders from associations and industry groups across North America. The working group is chaired by David Dever, United Fresh Board of Directors member and president and CEO of Sun World International. Dan Vaché, United’s vice president of supply chain management, also provides leadership for the working group.

“The new guidelines represent an incredible volume of work by industry associations and produce organizations involved in the transport of fresh produce,” said Dever. “We all know how crucial ensuring the vitality of our carrier industry is to the long-term viability of the North American produce industry, and this is one tool to support that.”

The NAPTWG compilation of best practice guidelines is intended to be an evolving resource to guide efficiency in produce transportation. The document is available free of charge to the produce industry and carriers at www.naptwg.org.

For more updates from Inside United Fresh, visit their website.

Click HERE for the full article.