by Nancy Tucker
US: PMA’s food safety work spans the globe

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) is well known for its international convention and exposition, Fresh Summit, held each fall. Yet PMA is much more than just a week in October at a convention – PMA offers year-round value that connects, informs and delivers business solutions to enhance members’ prosperity. To inform our readers about PMA's many and varied activities designed specifically for its worldwide members, Fresh Plaza is publishing a series of articles about PMA's activities.

No matter where in the world you are, delivering safe produce is now a cost of marketplace entry and not just a point of differentiation.  Buyers, end consumers, governments and other stakeholders rightfully expect everyone in the supply chain to safeguard the produce supply. 

But even in today’s environment of hyperawareness, the evolving food safety scene can be challenging and costly to keep up with.

PMA understands this and is working to help the global industry meet its food safety needs by engaging in proactive measures and providing interactive support. Our hiring last year of our first Chief Science Officer, Dr. Bob Whitaker, has tremendously propelled our food safety efforts. The educational opportunities he provides via Fresh Connections events, sessions at PMA conferences including Fresh Summit, and our new food safety symposia for C-level executives impart a wealth of knowledge and practical steps.

In fact, PMA offers a wide range of global education on food safety issues from which members glean great value. Many of our resources are available online, making our information time zone neutral – available 24 hours, 7 days a week, no matter where you are. Dr. Whitaker’s audioblog, “Ask Dr. Bob”, is a valued resource for many on-the-go business people worldwide.

Our support of key industry organizations in the food safety area helps our members stay connected to a wider perspective of the issue. PMA is proud to have co-founded the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the University of California-Davis in 2007, along with the California Department of Agriculture and with funds from Taylor Farms. We continue to champion CPS’s work in providing the produce industry and government with open access to actionable information needed to continually enhance the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables from field to fork. Our support for the U.S.-based Partnership for Food Safety Education and its retail “Be Food Safe” campaign and consumer “Fight BAC!” education campaign are other areas with a direct-to-consumer impact.

Other efforts take us into government and international relations work. Dr. Whitaker’s ongoing contact with global food safety leaders ensures PMA and our members are involved and informed on a global basis. PMA works every day with regulatory officials, congressional staff and allied trade groups to guide the debate on food safety legislation to ensure that future legislation and regulations address real world needs and truly make products safer.  We also monitor global food safety efforts on our industry’s behalf, and work to encourage benchmarking and standardization whenever possible. PMA members can demonstrate their food safety leadership by supporting PMA’s Gold Circle: Campaign for Food Safety. Gold Circle funds help underwrite many of the PMA food safety activities mentioned here in addition to others. We return the favor by giving you big visibility on a small budget.

PMA can help members navigate the complex maze of food safety. For more information and resources on food safety, visit www.pma.com.

Publication date: 7/14/2009

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