The Fresh Produce Safety Centre welcomes two businesses as new supporters of the Centre: Fresh Markets Australia and the Freshmax Group.

“We are delighted to welcome Freshmax and Fresh Markets Australia to our growing supporter base,” said FPSC Chairman Michael Worthington.

“It is by the fresh produce industry coming together and working collaboratively that we will be able to achieve our mission of enhancing fresh produce food safety through research, outreach and education,” he said.

“The addition of these two important fresh produce organisations will considerably strengthen the Fresh Produce Safety Centre’s industry reach.”

The Freshmax Group consists of a number of Australian, New Zealand and US Fresh Produce Marketers. The group includes: Freshmax New Zealand, Freshmax Australia, Deluca Banana Marketing, Valleyfresh and Crasborn Fresh Harvest.

Fresh Markets Australia is the national organisation representing each of the six Market Chambers, which themselves are organisations which represent in excess of 430 the fruit and vegetable wholesalers located in each of Australia’s six central Markets (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Newcastle).

“This gives us a great opportunity to support the projects that relate specifically to our business and that of our suppliers and clients” says Ross Kane, Freshmax Group CEO. “The work that the PMA are doing through this initiative is impressive and so important to our industry that we had to get involved.”

Chairman of Fresh Markets Australia, Shane Schnitzler said “Fresh Markets Australia is a strong advocate of fresh produce safety. In 2001, we introduced FreshTest in direct response to requests from industry to manage and collate the results from MRL and microbial testing of fresh produce. We see the FPSC as a great initiative that supports all parts of the supply chain when it comes to research and education to enhance the safety and quality of fruit and vegetables.”

Fresh Markets Australia and the Freshmax Group will both be joining the Fresh Produce Safety Centre at the Bronze supporter level.

The Fresh Produce Safety Centre’s supporters are:

Platinum supporters: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd | PMA Australia-New Zealand Limited | University of Sydney | Woolworths Ltd

Silver supporters: Freshcare Limited | Harris Farm Markets Pty Ltd | Horticulture New Zealand | Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd | Primo Moraitis Fresh Pty Limited | Zespri Group Limited

Bronze supporters: Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) | Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries in Western Australia (Inc) | Freshmax Group | Fresh Markets Australia | GS1 Australia Ltd | Kalfresh Pty Ltd | Living Foods NZ | MG Marketing Limited and LaManna Limited | Mulgowie Farming Company | Nufarm Australia Limited | OneHarvest Pty Ltd | Premier Fruits Group Pty Ltd | Sci Qual International Pty Ltd | TQA Australia

The Fresh Produce Safety Conference 2015, the next major outreach event of the FPSC, will be held on 12 August 2015. Visit fpsc2015.com

Further information about the Fresh Produce Safety Centre is available at freshproducesafety-anz.com or please contact FPSC Executive Director Emma Walters on +61 2 8627 1058 or FPSC Technology Manager Richard Bennett on +61 429 329 731.

Download this FPSC media release (PDF, 108KB)