Since the inception of the California and Arizona Leafy Green Marketing Agreements (LGMAs), Western Growers (WG) has been at the forefront of developing and revising the written, “Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production and Harvest of Lettuce and Leafy Greens” for the leafy greens industry in both states.

Yesterday, April 6, 2020, the comment period for issues related to Agricultural Water opened. The comment period is open for 30 days (Issue # 6 in the guidelines) followed by an additional 30-day comment period for Field Sanitation (Issue # 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the guidelines) on May 4, 2020.

WG invites all stakeholders interested in enhancing the safety of leafy greens to engage in this process. Click here to submit proposed changes or comments on the Leafy Greens Guidance website.

Since 2007, WG, in partnership with the Arizona and California LGMAs, has managed a systematic amendment process based on a yearly calendar. The food safety guidelines, adopted by the LGMAs, impact the way leafy greens are farmed in California and Arizona and therefore must be based on credible science balanced with practical field implementation.

Proposed changes must meet LGMA criteria to be considered. Proposals should be 1) comprehensive, auditable by government auditors, 2) accompanied by a statement on how proposed changes will enhance food safety, and 3) include a clear and straightforward scientific basis or rationale, including citations of relevant research if available.

For additional information, contact WG Science and Technology at [email protected]