Trade associations in the US have come together to issue food safety guidelines for melons.
The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association (United) and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) released Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain on Monday. The guidance was developed by a group of leading produce food safety officers and representatives of operations within the industry and is aimed at the entire melon supply chain.
“United, PMA, and our industry partners have made food safety our top priority,” said Jim Gorny, vice president of quality assurance and technology for United. “We are committed to continual improvement of produce safe handling practices and suggest that all companies involved in the melon supply chain consider the recommendations contained within these guidelines.”
This initiative could be the first in a new collaborative relationship as the two bodies have agreed to work together to review and implement these and other fresh-produce food-safety guidelines.
“The myriad health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption are well documented, and we will take all necessary steps to make our industry’s products as safe, nutritious, and delicious as possible,” said Kathy Means, PMA vice-president of government relations.
Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain, is available on both www.uffva.org and www.pma.com.
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