What We Do
What is the Fresh Produce Safety Centre ANZ?
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand brokers connections and collaborations with global leaders in fresh produce to build industry capacity and capability to deliver safer fresh produce to consumers.
Our supporters represent the fresh produce value chain – growers and packing houses, input services, storage and transport, wholesale, retailers and exporters. Our networks exist across government and regulatory bodies, food safety standards and auditing, research and education, equipment and packaging. Our expertise lies in bringing together innovative food safety best practice to create cultural change in food safety.
How was the Centre established?
The Centre was established in 2014 by the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ now IFPA ANZ) in partnership with The University of Sydney.
What is the role of the Centre?
In essence, the Centre:
- Identify and broker connections and collaborations that improve food safety knowledge and leads to innovative solutions
- Host food safety events; a networking conference, innovation forum, a series of webinars and small events
- Analyse and translate food safety research outcomes for industry uptake
- Review and update the Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety.
Why do we need a Fresh Produce Safety Centre?
The Centre addresses the need for a dedicated, coordinated approach focused on innovation, knowledge and leadership as we strive towards safer fresh produce in Australia and New Zealand.
What our supporters say:
Zespri has a strong focus on food safety as part of our long-standing commitment to provide customers and consumers with high quality, healthy and safe to eat kiwifruit. We are proud to support the Fresh Produce Safety Centre in helping raise food safety standards across the fresh produce industry. ~ Jason Te Brake, Chief Operating Officer, Zespri International Ltd
Reducing the risk of foodborne illness through improved food safety skills and knowledge across the horticulture supply chain is an important goal for the NSW Food Authority.
This can only be achieved in collaboration with the food industry, and key partners such as the Fresh Produce Safety Centre to develop and share educational resources and training. ~ Craig Shadbolt, Principal Food Safety Scientist, NSW Department of Primary Industries | Biosecurity & Food Safety
New Zealand Food Safety/Haumaru Kai Aotearoa work every day to ensure that food, which is grown, produced, prepared, shared, and consumed across New Zealand is safe and suitable for everyone.
We provide the regulatory environment, which supports businesses to make safe and suitable food for New Zealanders and our export markets.
We proudly support the Fresh Produce Safety Centre to help both the Australian and New Zealand horticulture industries meet their food safety obligations by having access to research, timely and practical information, support, and training. ~ Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director General, New Zealand Food Safety