Read the latest edition of Fresh & Safe News.

From the desk of the CEO

Firstly, I am delighted to report that Susannah is making excellent progress on the Horticulture Food Safety Initiative (HFSI). Our team has been actively engaging with our ever growing Community of Practice (COP) and on our recent industry survey. An overview of the survey insights are included in this newsletter and details are available on our website, and I encourage you to take the time to read through them.

We recently had the pleasure of connecting with many of you at Hort Connections 2024. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new people who share our commitment to the success of our growers and the horticulture industry. The exchange of ideas and experiences at the conference was invaluable, and it reinforced the strength and vibrancy of our community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend our presentations at the Cultivation Corner.

Looking ahead, we are deeply involved in the planning stages for the 2024 review of the Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety. This review is crucial to ensuring that our guidelines remain current and effective in addressing changes in our industry. To support this important work, we are seeking to expand our consortium of funders for the HFSI. We believe that with additional support, we can further enhance the scope and impact of our guidelines. Details on the scope of this work is available on our website. CLICK HERE to view. If you are interested in becoming a funder, or know someone who might be, please reach out to me directly at ceo@fpsc-anz.com.

Finally, we look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium from 20-21 August 2024 at the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach. The programme is well developed and this is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the fresh produce supply chain, from growers and processors to retailers and regulators. It is an excellent opportunity to enhance your knowledge, stay updated on regulatory changes, and discover new approaches to ensuring the safety and quality of fresh produce.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to fresh produce safety.

Warm regards,
Farzana Adams

Research Survey completed

Thank you to all participants!

Thank you to our participants!

A?huge thank you to everyone who took part in our recent survey through online responses and phone interviews.?Your feedback is vital in helping us gain fresh insights into food safety practices within the fresh produce industry in Australia and New Zealand, and the information you provided will play a crucial role in shaping future outreach and research initiatives. We are also pleased to announce our winner of a $250 gift card for participating in the survey as grower, Davis Celeff! Congratulations!

A few highlights from survey results

Our industry research survey, part of the Horticulture Food Safety Initiative (HFSI), aimed to understand the current state of food safety knowledge and practices among fresh produce stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand. The survey closed last month with almost 200 online and phone interview respondents, representing various sectors across the fresh produce supply chain.

Demographics

  • Australia: 62% of respondents
  • New Zealand: 35% of respondents

Roles in the Supply Chain

  • All stakeholders represented across supply chain
  • Packing: 18%
  • Growing: 17%

Language and Business Size

  • English as a second language (ESL): 61% of online respondents
  • Predominantly English-speaking phone interviewees with a high ESL workforce
  • Small-scale businesses (<20 employees): 36% of respondents
  • Medium to large-scale businesses: majority of respondents

Confidence in Food Safety Practices

  • Overall high confidence: 86% feel extremely or very confident
  • Small businesses (0-4 employees): 100% confidence

Responsibility and Challenges in Food Safety

  • Collective responsibility: 35% of respondents believe all staff are responsible
  • Primary challenges: lack of resources (53%), limited access to training (47%), resistance to change (32%)

Proactive Approaches and Food Safety Training

  • Proactive food safety measures: 59% involve staff in continual improvements
  • Training utilization: 61% use professional training, 31% basic and refresher training, 3% no training provided
  • Interest in outreach activities: 84% overall, 42% of growers
  • Interest in research projects: 83% overall, with high interest from growers, packers, and retailers

Survey results highlight the high confidence in food safety practices within the fresh produce supply chain, the importance of collective responsibility, and the need for improved resources and training. The strong interest in proactive measures and research projects also illustrates our industry’s commitment to advancing food safety.

More trends and insights from the survey results will soon be available at https://fpsc-anz.com

Horticulture Food Safety Initiative update
with Susannah Roelofsz

The Horticulture Food Safety Initiative (HFSI) aims to elevate Food Safety Standards in the ANZ Fresh Produce Industry with an initial focus on melons, berries, and leafy vegetables. We are pleased to share our latest progress update on this Project.
What’s next?

As we enter Phase 4 of our initiative, our focus remains on Stakeholder engagement across the fresh produce supply chain. Building on insights gathered from the previously undertaken food safety stocktake and industry research survey, we are now able to refine our Industry Engagement Plan. Identified gaps in food safety knowledge and resources will drive targeted outreach activities, using a blend of communication channels including social media platforms, webinars, newsletters, materials and targeted in-person and online training sessions.

A dedicated Food Safety Helpdesk will provide technical support, addressing scientific and technical queries relating to fresh produce food safety. As new regulations are set to take effect in Australia on the 12th of February 2025, for melons, berries, and leafy vegetables, our ongoing efforts will help to shape future strategies to elevate food safety practices. This phase marks an important milestone as we continue to foster a culture of collaboration within our industry. Stay tuned for updates, your continued support and collaboration are crucial to the success of this initiative and beyond.

Cultivating safety through the Horticulture Food Safety Initiative at Hort Connections 2024

Susannah Roelofsz was pleased to present at Hort Connections 2024 on the Horticulture Food Safety Initiative and a key deliverable in cultivating safety.

Farzana Adams also hosted a very informative panel discussion on securing consumer confidence while assuring fresh produce food safety.

Early Bird tickets ending soon!

Following feedback from sponsors, exhibitors and delegates of the fresh produce safety community, the event formerly known as the Fresh Produce Safety Conference has been completely re-imagined and has been relaunched as The International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium.

The event has been expanded from a single day conference to a world-class Symposium hosted over two full days at the recently refurbished Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach in a beautiful purpose-built conference and exhibition space. We have secured an amazing line-up of speakers from Australia, New Zealand and the USA and allocated more dedicated networking and exhibition time than ever before, at multiple times on both days. CLICK HERE to check out the programme and speakers.

Food safety leader, food system futurist and author Frank Yiannas will be joined by leading international and regional experts who will deliver engaging and inspiring sessions as we CONNECT COLLABORATE CULTIVATE for a future of safe and sustainable fresh produce through science, innovation and collaboration.

Maximise your return on investment and get the full benefit of promotional exposure by securing your sponsorship or exhibition package now! For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact FPSC CEO Farzana Adams. For information about exhibition spaces, contact FPSC Communications & Events Officer Jody Sharpe.

Our sponsors currently include Woolworths, Perfection Fresh, EcoWize, Merieux NutriSciences. Exhibitors currently include EcoWize, GS1 Australia and Freshcare.

Early bird ticket sales are ending soon! Don’t miss your chance to secure discounted pricing.

Delegates can also access discounted accommodation by phoning the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach directly on +61 2 9556 5111 and quoting the code FPS200824.

FPSC thanks AUSVEG for continued support

AUSVEG is the prescribed peak industry body (PIB) for the Australian vegetable and potato industries.

AUSVEG is the national peak industry body for Australia’s vegetable, potato and onion growers, representing one third of the national horticulture industry output – $5.8 billion in vegetable production value of the $16.3 billion total horticulture production.

AUSVEG is owned by growers for growers, and is committed to growing the vegetable, potato and onion industry through advocacy to government, representing grower interests, and delivering high-quality services and programs to those growers in areas such as biosecurity, communications and extension, sustainability, and international trade.

In partnership with the International Fresh Produce Association – Australia New Zealand, AUSVEG co-hosts Hort Connections, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticulture conference, which showcases services and products available to growers and industry, and also fosters discussion and collaboration around the industry’s most important and pressing issues.

Safety and sustainability are key to the ongoing success of growers and the industry, and AUSVEG is pleased to be a ‘Silver’ supporter of the Fresh Produce Safety Centre.

Calendar of Events

2024 Events

JULY

1 | NZFSSRC Annual Symposium, Hamilton NZ MORE

9 | IFPA A-NZ ‘Recall Ready’ Food Safety Webinar, online MORE

14-17 | International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting, California USA MORE

31 – 2 Aug | National Cherry Industry Conference, Hobart TAS MORE

AUGUST

6-7 | AIFST Summit, Sydney AUS MORE

20-21 | International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium, Sydney AUS MORE

28-30 | HortNZ Horticulture and RSE Conference, Mount Maunganui NZ MORE

2025 Events

FEBRUARY

24-27 | BerryQuest International, Hobart TAS MORE