Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/215151
Carter said there's never been a food safety incident relating to fresh, Research is already under way looking at potential whole tree fruits, and researchers might be more focused on crops with contamination in the warehouse. Relating to a proposed higher visibility that have had real food safety issues, such as leafy greens, FDA requirement that any surface that comes into concantaloupe, and mango. But as the industry comes under the new food tact with fruit will need to be sterilized, a study by Dr. safety regulations, producers need research behind them. Karen Killinger, extension food safety specialist at Wash"We're hoping that ington State University, aims to determine if bins need to we'll have more people be sanitized, and if so, how. applying this year because "We have seven million bins in the industry," Carter we've been convincing said. "How are we going to sample them and determine more people this is a very if we're going to have contamination? Do we really have worthwhile endeavor," a problem or is it not an issue if we have mitigation steps she said. in the packing house?" Bonnie FernandezArmed with the answers to these questions, growers Fenaroli, executive direcmight be able to use alternatives to the practices in the tor of the CPS, said the FDA regulations. Or, state or regional entities might apply center will put out a call to the FDA for variances on behalf of their industries. for research proposals on Minimize costs January 15, 2014, and is Dr. Ines Hanrahan, project manager with the Washtrying to alert as many sci—Ines Hanrahan ington Tree Fruit Research Commission, who is collabentists as possible beforeorating with WSU researchers, said the objective is to hand about the opportunity. Proposals are due by March 14. minimize the cost to entities within the tree fruit industry "It's a matter of getting our industry colleagues to reach out to the Ines Hanrahan of complying with food safety regulations that might not scientists they know and trying to get the academic community more be necessary. aware," Fenaroli said. "Sometimes, the issue that's in crisis or the com"While we all agree we want to keep our food supply modity that's in crisis does get the attention, but there's a lot of interest as safe as possible, we don't want to have our growers, for example, start chlorinating by commodity groups and regional groups to be proactive to reduce the risk of having water in the field just because it would make it more safe, if it's a procedure that's not these issues." necessary," she said. Scientists might not be aware that as well as providing funding, the center and its "The goal is to examine how can we have a safe product and optimize the process to partners can offer additional resources, such as access to facilities and farms to conduct make it even safer while minimizing the cost to the grower." the studies, she said. "The goal is to optimize the process to make it even safer while minimizing the cost to the grower." • Now Accepting Contracts for Spring 2015 and 2016! We have over 50 years of experience in the nursery business and are now taking growing contracts for: Ultima™ Gala, Banning Red Fuji, uji Honeycrisp,™ Granny Smith, and many others. Red F Banning e 7 to 10 to b Taking orders for benchgrafts. appears ier than days earl te Fujis! other la 4000 Grant Road, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 banningnursery@hotmail.com 38 DECEMBER 2013 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com