Carol Miller

Carol Miller

How Dixondale Farms Is Aiming To Protect Its Legacy

David Eddy

David Eddy

Pistachio Power: Where Growing and Research Mesh for Success

Bob West

Bob West

Data Dig: California Farmers Working Hard To Protect Their Assets

Richard VanVranken

Richard VanVranken

Why Veggie Growers Should Get to Know Their Customers Better

Battle Over Food Safety Legislation Continues

Growing Produce Staff By Growing Produce Staff|April 28, 2010

Some organizations are pushing for exemptions for small-scale producers while others say all growers must be in compliance with food safety regulations.

More than 100 food, agricultural, ranching, and consumer groups recently signed a letter being distributed to U.S. Senators asking them to consider the amendments introduced by Montana Senator Jon Tester. One amendment introduced by Tester would exempt direct-marketing farms from the FDA produce standards. To read the letter, click here.

In California, organic growers and small producers are becoming more concerned about the expense associated with additional food safety protocols, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. On the other side of the equation, a representative of Western Growers, which represents large fruit and vegetable producers in California and Arizona, said small growers should not be exempt from the legislation. To read the article, click here. 

0

Leave a Reply

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Where do I find out how to market citrus fruit grown in Maricopa county, Arizona? Where do I find the rules? Mesa Citrus Growers packing house is going out of business and I have 60 acres of navel, valencia and ruby blush grapefruit to market.
Thank you
Mickey

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

It is an outrage that small, organic farmers think they are above being accountable for food safety. Most of these farms would instantly fail any food safety audit. The food poisoning caused by small farms simply does not get the press coverage. My farm is under 10 acres and I am third party audited at least three times per year.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Let’s be reasonable about food safety. I think the concern is about some national outbreak that affects thousands of people. That means any food that goes into the mainstream supply should be included.

However, there are many of us that have an acre or two and market locally at farmers markets. There is no danger to the national food supply in this area. If we are saddled with all kinds of fees and regulations, then most of us would quit doing what we are doing. I think it is of national importance that we have a local food supply. I hope that the new regulations will take this into consideration.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Anyone selling food for profit into a consumer network of any kind should be accountable for their product and if the regulation says audit, then everyone should audit. Do you really not care if you get your local farm market customers sick. NOBODY likes the expense involved and it’s not easy for anyone; but the rules of the game have changed.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Has anyone ever considered how many people touch our products after they leave the farm. From produce managers to housewives. Why is it always the farmer.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

The squeeze in on for the small local producer. The big boys want you out of the business. Just like NAIS, follow the money. Terminator seeds, GMO and restricted markets are the new tools of the monopoly.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

The fact is that there is no real science behind the food safety regulations. It’s a knee-jerk response to food incidents that affected an incredibly minute percentage of consumers. The local food movement is starting to hurt the Empire. They can afford the regulatory costs and they are hoping to eliminate many smaller competitors who cannot.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Most of you dont get it the small farmer is usually also the Father of Mother of children on the farms and we have no intention of giving food to our children that would make them sick or worse. I have an Orchard in the midwest my fruit is picked and boxed with only one hand touching it if you took a look at the big markets and machines used you wouldnt want any more big supplier south america produce. If goverment and big business have there way all small producers will be gone.Use a little uncommon sense we would all be better off or let goverment take care of it and soon they will tell you what air to breath.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

All this food safety stuff has nothing to do with anyone getting sick. It’s all about liability. Large chain stores which provide the majority of food to consumers in the US just want to make sure there’s plenty of people down the line to counter sue in case they get sued.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

I have been on both sides of the fence regarding small organic farms and large family farms. Some of the worst infractions of food safety as well as lack of worker safety I have seen have been on small organic farms. Food safety is everyone’s business and yes this is a knee jerk reaction to what happen in 2006 but let I remind you 2 of the worst outbreak of food poisoning in produce have been by organic suppliers. Odwalla juice and Earthbound Farm both organic suppliers.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Large producing growers should have NOTHING to say about small growers. Only their OWN BUSINESSES.
Small growers are generally more carefull handling Local grown food. They have to eat it too.
COMMON SENCE is what is needed.
KEEP GOVERMENT OUT OF FOOD SAFETY FOR SMALL GROWERS. A listing of people(Commerical) buying from is good enough.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

What gets me mad is the hypocrisy, we import tons of food from third world countries, countries who do not share the same hygenic standards we small farmers are naturaly expected to up hold. And most of these standards I do hope we up hold, for example it is common practice to use human waste as a soil ammendment in some of these countries, they have for centuries emptied thier chamber pots right into te family gardens, and we know we all could make list of other questionable practices. My point being is fine if we want to implement rules that will cost then it needs to be implemented all across the board, even imported food, which usaly is not held to the same standards, and when folks get sick it usaly is the American farmers who get blamed, not the imported food from say Guatamala. New regs mean more cost, we all foreign and domestic should share these cost. Food imported from half way around the world should not be able to be cheaper than local food !!!!
josh crfissen
bloomfield indiana

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

The comments about food coming from abroad are well taken, BUT….
I have worked in the produce industry off shore most notably in Central America. It is interesting that there are several comments stating that foregin produced food has little or no food safety standards. This simply is NOT true.
I have seen food safety plans being used by companies that export to both the US and Europe that are far greater than anything in the USA. In fact if an exporter from Central America exports to both the USA and Europe they have to be certified in two (2) separate programs, one for the US and another for Europe.
All the hoopla about food safety and the food safety bill passed last year have more to do with “control” by our collectivist government than to do with food safety. If you really think about it the government does not care if you get sick from food or not!! They just want the control because every politician I have ever met is a control freak!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

An issue few are looking at is personal responsibility. I tell all my clients whether a particular product has been washed yet or not, but always tell them it must be washed again. That should be common sense, but common sense isn’t all that common anymore. Consumers need to take charge of some of their own food safety, and be responsible. It would be interesting to see if the food illness victims ate the contaminated greens as they came from the producer, or if they had properly washed them again like a prudent person should.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
September 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

An issue few are looking at is personal responsibility. I tell all my clients whether a particular product has been washed yet or not, but always tell them it must be washed again. That should be common sense, but common sense isn’t all that common anymore. Consumers need to take charge of some of their own food safety, and be responsible. It would be interesting to see if the food illness victims ate the contaminated greens as they came from the producer, or if they had properly washed them again like a prudent person should.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Where do I find out how to market citrus fruit grown in Maricopa county, Arizona? Where do I find the rules? Mesa Citrus Growers packing house is going out of business and I have 60 acres of navel, valencia and ruby blush grapefruit to market.
Thank you
Mickey

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

It is an outrage that small, organic farmers think they are above being accountable for food safety. Most of these farms would instantly fail any food safety audit. The food poisoning caused by small farms simply does not get the press coverage. My farm is under 10 acres and I am third party audited at least three times per year.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Let’s be reasonable about food safety. I think the concern is about some national outbreak that affects thousands of people. That means any food that goes into the mainstream supply should be included.

However, there are many of us that have an acre or two and market locally at farmers markets. There is no danger to the national food supply in this area. If we are saddled with all kinds of fees and regulations, then most of us would quit doing what we are doing. I think it is of national importance that we have a local food supply. I hope that the new regulations will take this into consideration.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Anyone selling food for profit into a consumer network of any kind should be accountable for their product and if the regulation says audit, then everyone should audit. Do you really not care if you get your local farm market customers sick. NOBODY likes the expense involved and it’s not easy for anyone; but the rules of the game have changed.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Has anyone ever considered how many people touch our products after they leave the farm. From produce managers to housewives. Why is it always the farmer.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

The squeeze in on for the small local producer. The big boys want you out of the business. Just like NAIS, follow the money. Terminator seeds, GMO and restricted markets are the new tools of the monopoly.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

The fact is that there is no real science behind the food safety regulations. It’s a knee-jerk response to food incidents that affected an incredibly minute percentage of consumers. The local food movement is starting to hurt the Empire. They can afford the regulatory costs and they are hoping to eliminate many smaller competitors who cannot.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Most of you dont get it the small farmer is usually also the Father of Mother of children on the farms and we have no intention of giving food to our children that would make them sick or worse. I have an Orchard in the midwest my fruit is picked and boxed with only one hand touching it if you took a look at the big markets and machines used you wouldnt want any more big supplier south america produce. If goverment and big business have there way all small producers will be gone.Use a little uncommon sense we would all be better off or let goverment take care of it and soon they will tell you what air to breath.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

All this food safety stuff has nothing to do with anyone getting sick. It’s all about liability. Large chain stores which provide the majority of food to consumers in the US just want to make sure there’s plenty of people down the line to counter sue in case they get sued.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

I have been on both sides of the fence regarding small organic farms and large family farms. Some of the worst infractions of food safety as well as lack of worker safety I have seen have been on small organic farms. Food safety is everyone’s business and yes this is a knee jerk reaction to what happen in 2006 but let I remind you 2 of the worst outbreak of food poisoning in produce have been by organic suppliers. Odwalla juice and Earthbound Farm both organic suppliers.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

Large producing growers should have NOTHING to say about small growers. Only their OWN BUSINESSES.
Small growers are generally more carefull handling Local grown food. They have to eat it too.
COMMON SENCE is what is needed.
KEEP GOVERMENT OUT OF FOOD SAFETY FOR SMALL GROWERS. A listing of people(Commerical) buying from is good enough.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

What gets me mad is the hypocrisy, we import tons of food from third world countries, countries who do not share the same hygenic standards we small farmers are naturaly expected to up hold. And most of these standards I do hope we up hold, for example it is common practice to use human waste as a soil ammendment in some of these countries, they have for centuries emptied thier chamber pots right into te family gardens, and we know we all could make list of other questionable practices. My point being is fine if we want to implement rules that will cost then it needs to be implemented all across the board, even imported food, which usaly is not held to the same standards, and when folks get sick it usaly is the American farmers who get blamed, not the imported food from say Guatamala. New regs mean more cost, we all foreign and domestic should share these cost. Food imported from half way around the world should not be able to be cheaper than local food !!!!
josh crfissen
bloomfield indiana

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

The comments about food coming from abroad are well taken, BUT….
I have worked in the produce industry off shore most notably in Central America. It is interesting that there are several comments stating that foregin produced food has little or no food safety standards. This simply is NOT true.
I have seen food safety plans being used by companies that export to both the US and Europe that are far greater than anything in the USA. In fact if an exporter from Central America exports to both the USA and Europe they have to be certified in two (2) separate programs, one for the US and another for Europe.
All the hoopla about food safety and the food safety bill passed last year have more to do with “control” by our collectivist government than to do with food safety. If you really think about it the government does not care if you get sick from food or not!! They just want the control because every politician I have ever met is a control freak!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

An issue few are looking at is personal responsibility. I tell all my clients whether a particular product has been washed yet or not, but always tell them it must be washed again. That should be common sense, but common sense isn’t all that common anymore. Consumers need to take charge of some of their own food safety, and be responsible. It would be interesting to see if the food illness victims ate the contaminated greens as they came from the producer, or if they had properly washed them again like a prudent person should.

Reply
Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:
December 22, 2011 at 3:17 am

An issue few are looking at is personal responsibility. I tell all my clients whether a particular product has been washed yet or not, but always tell them it must be washed again. That should be common sense, but common sense isn’t all that common anymore. Consumers need to take charge of some of their own food safety, and be responsible. It would be interesting to see if the food illness victims ate the contaminated greens as they came from the producer, or if they had properly washed them again like a prudent person should.

Reply

Related posts