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Author: Sonia Salas

Posts By: Sonia Salas

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WG Webinar on the Use of IPM Set for May 27

Western Growers will host a webinar in late May that will focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in organic and conventional operations, as well as in the management of invasive pests.  A representative from the Western IPM Center will provide some highlights related to a special report recently released on the adoption and impacts of ...

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TOMORROW — Register for the WG IPM Lunch and Learn Webinar

Western Growers will host a webinar in late May that will focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in organic and conventional operations, as well as in the management of invasive pests.  A representative from the Western IPM Center will provide some highlights related to a special report recently released on the adoption and impacts of ...

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Traceability: Important or Indispensable?

During the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Conference in Indiana back in August of 2014, the theme of the session dedicated to food traceability was: Traceability is important for food safety and indispensable for food defense.  Still questions remain: Why should you care about traceability when there are more pressing issues?  Is the difference ...

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Listeria: Zero Tolerance or Low Levels?

For several years, food items other than fresh produce have usually been associated with listeriosis outbreaks.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeriosis is an important public health problem in the United States.  Listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes (L.mono)—one of the two pathogenic species of Listeria, which may…

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Is Sustainability Your Way of Life?

Current statistics indicate that the typical American uses 160 gallons of water per day in comparison to people in other countries who have access to only two or three gallons per day.  In the United States 426,000 cell phones are retired (not all broken) every day, one million plastic cups are used in airline flights ...

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“No Fumigants” by 2020 in California

The number of efficacious fumigants currently available and the flexibility to use them in California is rapidly diminishing in key agricultural settings and impacting operations.  While California has the country’s most stringent fumigant use restrictions to protect human health and the environment, many regulators and activists fail to recognize how rigid and demanding the current…

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Integrated Pest Management Insights

(Editor’s Note: Questions and answers have been paraphrased for brevity and clarity.)   Organic and conventional producers benefit from the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet the director of the Western IPM Center, Dr. Jim Farrar, who provides overall leadership for the center.  Here is a ...

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Could Nanotechnology Benefit Your Business?

Nanotechnology was a subject of interest at the recent International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) conference in Portland, OR.  While research on this technology began about a decade ago, recent developments hold particular promise for the fresh produce industry. In the not-so-distant future, applications of nanomaterials may allow us to increase crop yields without expanding…

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Are You Considering Solar Power?

In April 2014, Western Growers launched a Solar Energy Initiative (SEI) to periodically provide information that may be useful to WG members interested in solar power.  Here are some of the most recent developments related to the current tax credit for solar systems, as well as some of the considerations to determine if a solar ...

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What is the Future of GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have become a hot topic in recent years as more media and anti-GMO groups have raised awareness about their existence.  During a recent webinar hosted by Western Growers, Dr. Peggy Lemaux with the University of California, Berkeley, provided a great overview of the current status on GMOs.  I was not surprised ...

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What is the Role of ET in Agriculture?

Forrest Melton, a well-respected senior research scientist, recently said: “When people hear that NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is interested in understanding E.T., the last thing that may come to mind is agriculture.” Though extraterrestrials may come to mind first when confronted with the ET acronym, the reality is Melton is talking about ...

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Biofuel Production: Is it an Option for Specialty Crop Growers?

In this country, biofuel production has been typically associated with corn, although biofuels can be produced from different feedstocks, including crop residues, manure and others.  During a recent webinar hosted on biofuel production, Dr. Stephen Kaffka shared key information related to the current policy, opportunities and challenges of producing biofuel in California.  One of the…

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Tax Credit for Solar Systems Extended

The current 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a nice incentive for companies pursuing solar power options.  Last year, some working in the solar industry were concerned about the potential expiration of the ITC at the end of 2016, which meant solar systems had to be placed in service before December 31st, 2016, ...

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FSMA UPDATE: U.S. Food Safety Laws Overhauled

The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most comprehensive reform of the United States food safety laws in more than 70 years, was signed into law on January 4, 2011.  Following a nearly five-year rulemaking process, five of seven major FSMA rules are now effective.  These five rules addressing key food safety areas include: ...

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FSMA Mandates New Training Procedures

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is bringing changes to the food industry. Several months ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced two key food safety rules impacting the produce industry.  The new FDA’s Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption—the Produce Safety Rule (PS rule)—went into ...

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Honey Bees: Are They in Decline?

Pollinators—birds, bats and insects that carry pollen from one plant to another—contribute substantially to the economy of the United States. Pollinators are essential for maintaining many types of ecosystems and play a key role in food security and the sustainability of our food supply. Honey bees, in particular, enable the production of at least 90 ...

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Understanding FSMA Training Requirements

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has required the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue several new food safety regulations, now in effect. Throughout the new regulations are various requirements for training that personnel in fresh produce operations must undergo as part of their implementation.  Because there are different requirements across several rules ...

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Product Testing: What Has Changed?

The food safety landscape continues to change in the produce sector. Producers normally use microbial testing to measure water quality and potential issues related to a process and environment. Produce testing is mainly conducted to meet customer requirements. It is well known that produce testing cannot guarantee produce safety alone. However, there is still confusion ...

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Are You “Produce Safety Rule” Ready?

It’s been a long road since the signing of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, and recently you’ve more than likely been hearing much talk about preparation and compliance. FSMA has resulted in several food safety regulations, of which seven are relevant to the produce sector. January 26, 2018, was the compliance deadline ...

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Building a Food Defense Plan

In his FDA Voice blog post on March 28, 2018, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb discussed the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (commonly referred to as the Food Defense Rule or IA Rule). This rule applies to both domestic and foreign companies required to register with the Food and Drug ...

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