Western Agricultural Processors Association : WAPA Hosts Produce Safety Alliance Southwest Regional Extension Associate

WAPA Hosts Produce Safety Alliance Southwest Regional Extension Associate

Last week the Western Agricultural Processors Association hosted a two day tour for Donna Pahl, Southwest Regional Extension Associate for the Produce Safety Alliance. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) is a collaboration between Cornell University, FDA, and USDA to prepare fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements included in the United States Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. The group toured several of our members' operations with WAPA President/CEO Roger A. Isom and Director of Food Safety Priscilla Rodriguez. Sites visited included Central California Almond Growers Association (almond huller), Summerfield Farms (walnut huller), and Horizon Nut (pistachio huller). The purpose of the visit was to discuss implementation issues with the FSMA, in particular, the Produce Safety Rule. This was a great opportunity to discuss the operational differences between tree nut operations and other commodities. The tour provided the PSA a thorough understating of how our tree nut operations function from farms to processors. WAPA is working with the Produce Safety Alliance to find practical solutions on the implementation of the rule.

Kirk Squire, Horizon Nut discusses their hulling operations at Firebaugh facility

David Stanfield, Summerfield Farms discusses their walnut hulling operations