CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CDFA Inspection Services Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg partnered with Salinas Valley agriculture leaders earlier this week to host a team of federal food safety officials, led by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas.
It was an opportunity to spotlight National Food Safety Education Month with a focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, which establishes science-based federal minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fresh produce for human consumption. CDFA enforces the rule in California via its Produce Safety Program.
The group took a tour that included farms and processing facilities, including Grimmway Farms, D’Arrigo California, Naturipe Farms, and Taylor Farms; as well as a roundtable discussion at the Monterey County Farm Bureau. CDFA offers a special thank you to the tour’s partners and sponsors, including Western Growers, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and the Monterey County Farm Bureau.
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.