IN THIS EDITION:

Workshops: Manage Food Safety Risks, Opportunities

Are you prepared to meet the requirements of the new Food Safety Modernization Act? How about the new produce rule about to be released? Does your company have an adequate food safety program in place? Do you know what to do if the FDA comes knocking at your door? Is your company prepared to conduct a recall? Do you know the difference between recall and liability insurance and is your company fully protected from the financial damages that can be caused by a food safety incident?

All of these questions and more will be answered in a timely half-day seminar titled, “Prevent, Prepare, Protect: Managing Your Food Safety Risks and Opportunities.”  Experts from the Western Growers’ team will be in Salinas, Santa Maria, Yuma, Indio, Bakersfield and Visalia Feb. 29 through March 8, to break down the latest food safety requirements, provide you face-to-face with resources for handling investigations and recalls, and clarify misconceptions about recall and liability insurance.

The seminars are open to Western Growers members only. Register for a seminar in your area online. Join Western Growers today for the low rate of $400 (for membership until June 2013) to receive member benefits and services, including attending the seminar for free. Select the non-member rate online. For more information, please contact WG’s Hank Giclas, Greg Nelson or Jason Resnick.

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Feds Change Proposed Child Farm Labor Rules

Under pressure from the agriculture industry, the U.S. Department of Labor announced yesterday it will change part of its proposed rules originally released in September on child labor in agriculture. The new proposal will include more exemptions for children of any age working on the farm whose parents are part owners or operators of farms, or who have a substantial interest in a farm partnership or corporation, according to a press release. Called the “parental exemption,” the re-proposed portion of the rule is expected to be published for public comment by early summer.

Until the rule is finalized, the Labor Department will apply the broader parental exemptions to situations where the parent or person standing in the place of a parent is a part owner of the farm, a partner in a partnership or an officer with a substantial interest in a corporation that owns the farm, according to the release.

“The Labor Department listened to farmers and ranchers across the country,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This announcement and the additional opportunity for comment represent a common-sense approach to strengthen our agricultural economy while keeping farm kids safe.”

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WG Staff Featured Speakers at Ag Conference

Today, Western Growers staff members were featured speakers at the Agricultural Personnel Management Association 32nd Annual Forum in Shell Beach, Calif. Dave Puglia, WG senior vice president of government affairs and communications, gave the forum opening keynote address this morning. He focused his message on how agriculture can get involved in the political process in California.

“We’ve got to find a way to reconnect with urban voters,” Puglia said, “to dispel myths about food and farming, to listen to and acknowledge the concerns of people who have become interested in where their food comes from and how it’s produced.”

The Know a California Farmer website and effort by the California Agricultural Communications Coalition of which Western Growers is a member, is doing a better job with that, he said. Still, agriculture needs to be more willing to spend on political campaigns, Puglia said. He said the industry is “backing up” on issues that are important such as labor laws and environmental regulations.

Jason Resnick, WG’s general counsel, moderated a panel on social compliance audits which included a contract auditor and a grower-shipper compliance expert. Resnick noted that WG is fielding more inquiries from members seeking assistance with buyer audits.  

Miriam Rodriguez, an auditor who spent 20 years with Levi-Strauss, said her goal was to keep the company from being embarrassed by its suppliers and suffering brand damage. She went on to describe the elements of compliance agreements and codes of conduct buyers commit to that extend to producers.  

Oscar Leal with Sun Pacific described his company′s ongoing audit by Wal-Mart and the company′s standards that exceed state and federal requirements. 

Resnick closed with a description of the industry′s concerns with multiplication of inconsistent audits. In addition to educating buyers, WG and other industry leaders are participating in the development of a sustainability index specifically for the fresh produce industry—the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops—that could lead to greater harmonization of audit requirements. 

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Brown Appoints Pesticide Regulation Department Director

Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced his appointment of Brian Leahy, 55, of Sacramento, as director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Leahy, a Democrat, previously served as assistant director for the California Department of Conservation since 2006. His other experience includes partner at EcoFacilitation in the Netherlands in 2006, executive director for the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts from 2004 to 2006 and executive director at the California Certified Organic Farmers from 2000 to 2004.

A former farmer, Leahy was owner and operator of Cherokee Ranch Inc. from 1980 to 2003 and also a farm operator for Ackerlund Farm Incorporated from 1992 to 1993. Leahy earned a law degree from Creighton University School of Law.

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Central Coast Water Quality Ag Waiver Presented

A workshop and discussion with the members of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board took place yesterday. The event was held for the benefit of the newly appointed board members and scheduled at the request of stakeholders. 

Ag supporter and Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay Marc Los Huertos, Ph.D., presented a persuasive analysis and opinion of the coalition’s draft water quality proposal to a filled room of interested stakeholders including members of environmental organizations and board staff. While Los Huertos’ studied opinion was not entered into the public record, he appeared to make a positive impact on the board members who asked questions for nearly three hours.

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board staff proposal would create new regulations that would initiate costly new monitoring and reporting requirements for individual farmers with irrigated lands is opposed by the Farmers for Water Quality. The staff’s proposal will be put up for a vote by the board at their next meeting in mid-March. 

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