From the Desk of the CEO

Welcome to Volume 9 of Fresh & Safe News

As we approach the end of 2024, I’m proud of the strides we are making in elevating food safety discussions across the fresh produce sector. A key message from Jane Siebum, CEO of Freshcare, at this year’s International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium resonated deeply with our community: “If it’s not safe, it’s not food.”

This simple truth underscores the work our industry does every day. Ensuring the safety of our fresh produce is at the core of sustainability for horticulture. It’s about protecting consumers, strengthening market access, and reinforcing the integrity of our industry.

Our ongoing review of the?Fresh Produce Safety Guidelines?and initiatives like the?Horticulture Food Safety Initiative?are designed to help the industry meet evolving regulatory and customer requirements. This is especially crucial as we approach the implementation of new food safety standards for melons, berries and leafy vegetables in Australia in early 2025. Recent outreach activities, such as the VegNET Leafy Veg Roadshows in Victoria, have demonstrated the importance of preparing growers for these changes with practical, hands-on guidance.

Our Community of Practice continues to grow, creating an invaluable space for collaboration, and our?Fresh Produce Food Safety Helpdesk?is now a key resource for addressing industry needs.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to delivering safe, high-quality produce to consumers. Together, we’re setting new standards and ensuring a safe future for fresh produce.

Warm regards,

Farzana Adams

New Reports Highlight Sustainability and Food Safety as Key Pillars for Australia’s Horticulture Sector

Recent publications provide critical insights into the future of Australia’s horticulture sector, emphasising the importance of sustainability and food safety. The “Navigating a Future of Cross-Sectoral Forces” and the updated “Horticulture Sustainability Framework (HSF)” offer valuable foresight and practical guidance to help the industry navigate global challenges and opportunities.

Navigating Future Forces?

The “Navigating a Future of Cross-Sectoral Forces” report outlines the key global pressures expected to shape Australia’s rural industries over the next decade. From the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the decarbonization of the economy to increasing biosecurity risks and climate-induced migration, the report stresses the need for industries to be adaptable and innovative.

For horticulture, these forces are particularly relevant. The sector will need to embrace technological advancements, address climate change impacts, and ensure resilience in supply chains. Biosecurity and food safety also emerge as critical areas that must be fortified to meet growing consumer and market demands for traceable, ethically produced food.

The Horticulture Sustainability Framework (HSF)?

The Horticulture Sustainability Framework, revised in 2023, provides a specific roadmap for the sector, offering actionable goals and indicators for sustainable production. It focuses on four key areas:

• Nourish & Nurture: Ensuring the production of safe, nutritious, and traceable food.
• People & Enterprise: Promoting ethical work environments and community support.
• Planet & Resources: Encouraging sustainable farming practices and biodiversity protection.
• Climate & Waste: Reducing emissions, managing waste, and adapting to climate variability.

The HSF emphasizes the role of certifications like Freshcare and GlobalG.A.P. in meeting sustainability and food safety standards, which are crucial for maintaining consumer trust and market access.

Food Safety: A Key Element of Sustainability?

Food safety plays a central role in both reports, particularly within the Nourish & Nurture pillar of the HSF. As global food safety regulations evolve, Australian growers must ensure that their products meet the highest standards of safety and traceability. This not only protects consumer health but also secures Australia’s position in competitive international markets.

The HSF recognizes that sustainability is about more than environmental stewardship—it’s also about maintaining ethical production practices and ensuring that food safety is deeply integrated into all aspects of horticulture. The push for safe, traceable, and high-quality produce is a critical part of sustaining the sector’s growth and success.

Alignment for the Future?

Both reports highlight the growing alignment between sustainability and food safety. For Australia’s horticulture sector to thrive, it must be proactive in adopting innovative practices, meeting international sustainability benchmarks, and ensuring robust food safety systems. These publications provide a framework for stakeholders to navigate the challenges ahead and seize opportunities in the evolving global market.

Follow these links to the two publications:

• https://agrifutures.com.au/product/navigating-a-future-of-cross-sectoral-forces/
• https://www.horticulture.com.au/hort-innovation/our-work/horticulture-sustainability-framework/

Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety Review

In our ongoing efforts to continually improve our resources, we are conducting a comprehensive review of the FPSC-ANZ Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety. If you use the Guidelines, we would appreciate your insights by answering some questions.

Scan the QR code to access the survey:

OR CLICK HERE

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.

Fresh Produce Safety Community of Practice (COP)

Our Community of Practice continues to grow with over 75 members representing the fresh produce supply chain in Australia and New Zealand. Our community continues to meet bi-monthly to enhance collective expertise in the fresh produce industry and providing a forum to connect and collaborate for shared knowledge and learnings.

We hosted our first in-person COP Meeting on the 22nd of August following the International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium in Sydney. Meeting in person allowed for great discussion and sharing. We have also launched a private LinkedIn group exclusively for our COP members to share updates, resources and discuss food safety topics. This group fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among Stakeholders across the supply chain and ANZ. Join the conversation and stay connected with the latest industry insights! If you are interested in joining our COP, please email: technical@fpsc-anz.com

Industry engagement plan and outreach activities

Our industry engagement plan, initially focusing on melons, berries and leafy vegetables is underway. With the implementation of new food safety standards in Australia (4.2.7 for berries, 4.2.8 for leafy vegetables and 4.2.9 for melons) in February 2025.

We’ve officially kicked off our outreach activities and stakeholder engagement during various activities across Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria (and New Zealand for kiwifruit), with future outreach activities likely to be focused on small to medium sized businesses (including farmers markets), English second language and primary producers not on a food safety certification scheme.

Last month, I supported the VegNET 2025 Leafy Vegetable Roadshows in Maffra, Mornington Peninsula and Werribee, Victoria. The series of regional sessions aimed to prepare growers for the new Primary Production and Processing Standard for leafy vegetables. During the sessions, alongside Shane Herbertson from Agriculture Victoria and Sukhvinder Pal (SP) Singh from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, we provided practical advice on compliance preparedness. Growers received updates on implementation and the ‘Safe leafy veg’ program, as well as guidance on how to meet the standards food safety requirements and maintain compliance. The roadshow also offered an opportunity for growers to ask questions and clarify the steps needed to ensure their businesses comply with the standard. A BIG thank you to AUSVEG, VegNET, our dedicated presenters, and all of the growers who attended the roadshows. Your participation and engagement are key to ensuring a smooth transition to the new food safety standards.

For further information please reach out through our Helpdesk feature on our website or by email:  technical@fpsc-anz.com

Food Safety Helpdesk – FREE Technical Support for Fresh Produce

Since its launch, the Fresh Produce Food Safety Helpdesk has been receiving enquiries, but we want to remind industry members that this resource is here for you, it’s FREE and we encourage you to make the most of it! Whether you have a question about food safety standards, need compliance advice, or require guidance on where to find the right support or information, our Helpdesk is designed to assist you with all your needs.

You can also access a wealth of information, including FAQs, food safety guidelines, and technical documents directly through the chat or FAQs with links to detailed resources and guides on various food safety topics.

This tool is available for growers, packers, and anyone across the fresh produce supply chain. Don’t hesitate to reach out, we are here to help you navigate food safety challenges efficiently and confidentially. Make the most of this resource today, and feel free to share with your networks!

EMAIL: helpdesk@fpsc-anz.com

PHONE: +61 407 814 730 or +64 27 620 2729

WEBSITE: https://fpsc-anz.com

Have you visited our website lately?

We’ve made several updates to improve user experience, including the integration of Google Translate for easier access in multiple languages!

Scan the QR Code to access the website

OR CLICK HERE

What’s next?

We are launching the FPSC-ANZ Annual Industry Engagement Survey for 2024.

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing fresh produce safety, we are excited to announce our annual survey will be launched on the 1st of November. This survey is designed to gather valuable insights from you – our growers, industry stakeholders, and partners, so that we can continue to evolve our outreach and support to better meet your needs. Visit our website or CLICK HERE to complete the survey.

International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium
SAVE THE DATE 29-30 JULY 2025

Following the successful inaugural IFPSS24 held in Sydney in August, the FPSC-ANZ is thrilled to confirm the dates for next year. Mark your calendars now! You won’t want to miss this, and here’s 3 reasons why:

1. World-Class Speakers: Get insights from global and local powerhouses in fresh produce safety, science, and cutting-edge technology!
2. Unbeatable Networking: Rub shoulders with industry leaders, food safety professionals, regulators, researchers, and trailblazers from around ANZ and the globe!
3. Interactive Innovation: Dive into 2 days of dynamic presentations, live panel discussions, and hands-on workshops that will reshape your business!

Watch the recap video via the link below for all the highlights from IFPSS24 and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025!

Exhibition spaces and sponsorships are selling fast already! Contact Jody at events@fpsc-anz.com for all the details.

Australian Food Safety Week
9 to 16 November 2024

The theme of Australian Food Safety Week 9 to 16 November 2024 is ‘Look before you cook – reading food labels’ and will focus on following the food safety instructions on packaged foods labels such as use by or best before dates as well as cooking and storage instructions.

There is plenty you can do to join in:

• Get social download the Food Safety Information Council’s (FSIC) social media tiles, printable posters, web and email banners click here
• The Food Safety Week Stakeholder Social Content Kit 2024 full of tips for social media is now available so you can get involved.
• Sample media release adapt this sample media release to show what you are promoting during Australian Food Safety Week click here
• Test your knowledge with our ‘Look before you cook’ quiz click here
• Register your event whether it is a morning tea or public event let us know what you are doing and if you’d like the FSIC to publicise it click here

Throughout the year the FSIC also provide expert advice through the Australian Science Media Centre on a range of issues including not to pick or eat deathcap mushrooms, food safety in natural disasters and the mushroom gummies recall. You can find out more, including how to become a member, at www.foodsafety.asn.au

Calendar of Events

2024

NOVEMBER

11-15 | Postharvest 2024, Rotorua NZ MORE

2025

FEBRUARY

24-27 | BerryQuest International, Hobart TAS MORE

MARCH

5-6 | AIFST 2025 Microbiology Conference, Sydney AUS MORE

JUNE

4-6 | Hort Connections, Brisbane AUS MORE

JULY

29-30 | International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium, Sydney AUS – SAVE THE DATE! MORE INFO TO COME SOON…