Hearing Set on Controversial Leafy Greens Agreement

USDA hearings are under way on a proposal that would authorize the development of production and handling regulations for a long list of fresh vegetables, primarily leafy greens.

One upcoming hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Syracuse, N.Y. at the Renaissance Syracuse Hotel. To register call Susan Coleman, USDA, at (503) 326-2054.

According to the USDA, the agreement, as proposed, would authorize the development and implementation of production and handling regulations designed to support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices in the fresh leafy green vegetable industry. The agreement would be a voluntary program, so only those handlers who sign up with proposed agreement would be regulated.

“The goal is to reduce the risk of food safety problems related to leafy greens, such as the E. coli outbreak that occurred in fresh spinach in 2006,” said Doug Doohan, fruit and vegetable specialist with Ohio State University Extension and a leader of the Ohio Roundtable on Safe Production of Fresh Produce. “However, there are big concerns that such an agreement would put small growers at a disadvantage. Ohio has many small growers of leafy greens, and I’ve heard them express fears that even though this program is voluntary on a federal level, many retailers would likely not accept product from any grower that doesn’t join the agreement. That could put some, or many, of our growers out of business, and would likely not increase the safety of the food they supply.”

According to Wisconsin-based farm policy group the Cornucopia Institute, the proposed marketing agreement would allow leafy green handlers to attach a USDA-backed “food safety seal” to lettuce, spinach, cabbage and other vegetables while prohibiting most organic and local farmers selling through farmers markets, CSAs, roadside stands, and those selling directly to retailers from using the same seal.

“This proposed food safety agreement will do nothing to tackle the root cause of the food safety problem, which is, in most cases, manure from confined animal feeding operations that is tainted with disease causing pathogenic bacteria,” said Will Fantle of the Cornucopia Institute.

More information on the proposal is available at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/moab (click on “Proposed - Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.”)

Sources: Ohio State University and the Cornucopia Institute