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Posts By: Sonia Salas

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New Webinar Time: Proposed Changes to LGMA-approved Metrics Discussion

On May 20, 2021, Western Growers is hosting a web discussion surrounding all submissions received during the Soil Amendments/Non-Synthetic Crop Treatments comment period. Please note that this webinar will now be from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PT (not the 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. timeframe previously advertised). During this web discussion, proposed changes to ...

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FDA Releases Report Highlighting 2020 Salmonella Outbreak in Red Onions

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a report on its investigation of the Salmonella Newport outbreak that caused more than 1,600 reported illnesses in the United States and Canada between June and October 2020. The FDA worked with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state partners and Canadian officials to ...

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Web Discussion Tomorrow: Proposed Changes to LGMA-approved Metrics Discussion

Tomorrow, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. PT, Western Growers is hosting the second part of the web discussion surrounding all submissions received during the Soil Amendments/Non-Synthetic Crop Treatments comment period. During this web discussion, proposed changes to the LGMA-approved metrics will be publicly presented by the corresponding submitter with open dialogue allowed for all ...

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Adjacent Land Use/Production Locations Comment Period Closes Today

On May 27, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT, the comment period for issues related to Adjacent Land Use/Production Locations (Issues # 14 and # 15 in the guidelines) closes. Only submissions following the proper format and submitted before the deadline will be accepted. If you are interested in submitting a revision to the Adjacent Land ...

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New Surveillance Sampling Guidance and Updated Q&A Document

Western Growers (WG) has developed an industry guidance document, “Grower/Shipper/Handler Guide to Food and Drug Administration Assignment Sampling Visits,” which is available to WG members online here. This document is intended to provide information and suggested guidelines for WG members to follow during FDA sampling visits. Additionally, WG has revised the Salinas Valley Surveillance…

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Register for Adjacent Land Use/Production Locations Web Discussion

On June 9, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT, Western Growers is hosting a web discussion surrounding all submissions received during the Adjacent Land Use/Production Locations comment period, which closed on May 27, 2021. During this web discussion, proposed changes to the LGMA-approved metrics will be publicly presented by the corresponding submitter with ...

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Compilation of COVID-19 Updates to Assist WG Members

Western Growers has received numerous updates about the COVID-19 and the vaccine. Below is a compilation of all the resources that apply to WG members: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its “Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines,” with information regarding authorized use, side effects, ...

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Tomorrow’s Alliance for a Stronger FDA Webinar is Now Available to WG Members

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA is hosting a webinar tomorrow with U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food safety and animal health leadership, where they will discuss priorities and resource needs. Discussion topics of the webinar will include the New Era of Smarter Food Safety, the tenth anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act and ...

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FDA Releases Cyclospora Action Plan

Today, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan, outlining FDA’s strategy for diminishing Cyclospora cayetanensis-caused foodborne illness from domestic and imported fresh produce. In response to recent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis and findings of Cyclospora, the FDA’s Cyclospora Task Force was created in 2019 and…

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Upcoming Webinar Covers Remote Regulatory Assessments

Western Growers members are invited to attend an educational roundtable tomorrow: the “Remote Regulatory Assessments: Understanding the Benefits of Voluntary Participation and Future Implications” webinar. During the webinar, Michael Rogers of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will discuss the results of the agency’s remote regulatory assessment pilot and potential next steps for…

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RCA Guidance Released for the Produce Industry

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is of high interest for the produce industry because it can drive produce safety enhancements. In order to assist the fresh produce industry in root cause analysis decision making and implementation, Western Growers, in collaboration with other leading produce industry associations, developed and published two RCA industry guidance documents. The first ...

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FDA Releases Podcast Featuring Western Growers

Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a new podcast episode featuring Western Growers Science Programs Director Afreen Malik. The episode, titled “Whole Genome Sequencing in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety,” explores the potential of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in transforming food safety. In the podcast episode, Afreen discussed the current ...

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New Pre-Harvest Product Testing Guidance Now Available; Upcoming Webinar!

Over the past months, Western Growers (WG) has dedicated time and resources to update pre-harvest product testing guidance for leafy greens operations, otherwise known as “Appendix C of the LGMA-approved metrics.” Today, August 12, 2021, WG posted a revised version of Appendix C. Click here to access this document. These guidelines are founded on the ...

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Registration Now Open for the Root Cause Analysis Webinar

Learn more about root cause analysis by joining the “Root Cause Analysis Guidance Documents Overview” taking place on Thursday, August 26, 2021, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT. During the webinar Sonia Salas, Dr. Trevor Suslow, Afreen Malik, and Dr. Jennifer McEntire, will discuss: An Overview of RCA Guidance: “When to do an RCA” ...

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Free Food Safety Forum on September 14 for Western Growers Members

The American Frozen Food Institute will hold a free virtual food safety symposium on September 14 to serve as a platform for dialogue on Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) science, alternate approaches to regulatory policies and management of Lm in foods and implementation of more practical and science-based programs. Frank Yiannis, U.S. FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food ...

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FDA Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe Assignment Update

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently conducting an assignment to collect and test 240 samples of domestically produced fresh-cut cantaloupe from processors, warehouses and distribution centers. This assignment began in late June and will continue over the next 12 months. The target pathogens are Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The assignment includes an…

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Leafy Greens Transition Resources

Western Growers urges all leafy greens industry stakeholders to remain vigilant during this current transition period from California’s Central Coast to Yuma, Arizona. To provide support during this critical time, Western Growers and the Arizona and California LGMAs hosted a webinar series covering this topic back in 2020. This year, Western Growers continues collaborating with ...

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RSVP for Tomorrow’s Pre-Harvest Testing and Sampling In-Person Meeting

Tomorrow, Western Growers will host an in-person discussion in Salinas, California, on Appendix C of the LGMA-approved metrics. During the meeting, attendees will receive an in-depth overview of Appendix C and also have the opportunity to raise questions and learn about new resources available to the industry. To attend, RSVP to Scott Nichols at [email protected]. ...

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Webinar Series on Food Safety Culture Begins Nov. 4

On November 4, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and STOP Foodborne Illness will be holding their first webinar in a new series on food safety culture. Food safety culture is a journey and learning opportunity for both small to large-scale businesses, the regulatory community and consumers. In support of the FDA’s New ...

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FDA Pesticide Residue Report: Levels Remain Low for Eighth Year in a Row

In its annual Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report for FY 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shared that the  levels of pesticide residues in the U.S. food supply are generally in compliance with established standards, as they have over the past eight years. The FDA tested for 812 pesticides and industrial chemicals across 4,692 ...

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