October 11, 2007
Bronson Announces Food Safety Partnership With University Of Florida
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will work with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), to develop and deliver statewide food safety educational materials and training for agricultural producers and workers.
The Food Safety Partnership Program will enhance the safety and competitiveness of Florida specialty crops. The program is funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant in the amount of $253,000 and will be a multiyear program.
“It is critical to develop and provide materials, training and outreach activities, so that producers and production personnel adopt and adhere to good food safety practices to protect the public,” Bronson said.
The training and materials, which will be printed in both English and Spanish, will be provided statewide by Florida extension professionals to producers, field workers, packers and re-packers of fresh fruits and vegetables. Currently, few materials exist to train farm workers in food safety practices. Food safety requirements must be clearly communicated at all levels of production and handling, Bronson said.
To keep Florida specialty crops competitive and to ensure safe consumption, a series of practices must be followed to prevent and reduce microbial or chemical contamination. The Food Safety Partnership Program will target crops associated with the highest risk of food-borne illness and at the greatest level of production in Florida -- tomatoes, leafy greens, melons and berries.
Florida is the No. 2 producer of fruits and vegetables in the nation. Cash receipts for agriculture production in Florida for 2005 were $7.759 billion. According to USDA data, more than 45 percent of this amount was derived from specialty crop production of fresh fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that 12 percent of food-borne illnesses associated with outbreaks are caused by produce consumption.
Bronson said the food safety training and educational materials will address safe handling, production and packing of fruits and vegetables.
“While this issue is important for our growers to remain competitive in the global marketplace, it is critically important for the safety of the consuming public,” Bronson said.
For more information:
Carole Strange
(850) 488-3022
strangc@doacs.state.fl.us
Terence McElroy
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
