Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491368
18 STiR tea & coffee industry international would have to come together and establish basic standards, which should be achiev- able but should meet the food safety requirements," he says. "This is certainly doable but will require leadership and broad industry collaboration and engagement with the Food & Drug Administration." Since the government simply doesn't have the resources to enforce the standards on producers the alternative is to use its leverage to influence the coffee industry to enforce compliance. Unlike importers of "perishable" foods who must provide "full traceability" for their products, coffee importers will only be burdened with "supply chain verification." The best way to do that is to embrace a radical kind of transparency that few in the industry have implemented. One importer that has instituted a policy of transpar- ency is Portland Oregon roaster Sustainable Harvest. This company was founded on the principle that a transparent supply chain is crucial for sustainable industry growth. Sustainable Harvest recognized that transparency aids both farmers trying to sell the crops and importers looking to buy low and sell high. All links in the supply chain fall back on their own self-interest when no one has information beyond their point in the chain – farmers don't know where their coffee is being sold and buyers may not be able to trace the coffee to its origin. Sustainable Harvest buys from struggling farmers, sells to the world's biggest buyers and then reinvests about a third of its funds in training farmers. They connect every point on their supply chain in a manner that makes their products traceable and ensures cooperation among producers, importers, and buyers, creating the kind of long-lasting, trustworthy relationships that find them positioned very well in the event that the industry is called upon to meet the new FSMA requirements. Coffee importers must establish rigorous coffee quality programs that insure that coffee processors at origin adopt the same level of food safety practices as domestic producers. While everyone is concerned with food safety conditions vary widely by country and within regions within each country. Make a Plan While industry leaders and organizations like the National Coffee Association are working overtime to ensure that coffee is appropriately treated under the new FSMA regula- tions, it's prudent to plan ahead and update Standard Operating Procedures if the exemption is not secured. Here's what to do: • Develop your new Food Safety Plan • Identify and train a leader who will be responsible for developing the plan • Identify and evaluate possible food hazards • Identify and implement preventative controls to minimize or eliminate hazards • Monitor controls and keep records.