Posts from the "Events" category
2013 CPS Research Symposium resources now available
A number of resources from the 4th annual Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium have now been made available via the CPS website:
Symposium presentations including one by Bill Marler – “The Evolving Legal and Financial Realities of Produce Food Safety: What it means for you”- CPS website. See the full list of Resources
Final reports, CPS funded research – CPS website; Awards list . Reports are noted on right hand side of the page.
CPS 2013 Research Posters – CPS website; Poster Sessions
Stay tuned for the key learnings from the event.
Read Article →
Message from the CPS Research Symposium: Safe food is a commitment from all businesses.
When it comes to food safety, solutions are usually common-sense best practices and without absolute commitment from top management, no company in the fresh produce supply chain can achieve adequate food safety measures.
That was the key message of the fourth annual CPS Research Symposium, recently held in Rochester, NY. Approximately 3o0 attendees took part in 2 days of presentations and panel discussions with experts from government, fresh produce companies and academia offered on-the-spot interpretation of the food safety research.
“The search for answers to food safety questions is not just the right thing to do, it is the best risk management tool we have,” said Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer for the Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Del.
Seattle attorney, Bill Marler commented in his keynote address to the delegates of the conference “When you’re doing the right thing for your business, it’s right for your customers. When it’s right for your customers it’s good for your business.”
The Symposium covered a huge range of topics, the first day dedicated to Listeria. Also covered was research on compost and agricultural practices, water quality for irrigation and post harvest practices, pathogen transference in pre-harvest, harvest and packing procedures and much more!
The research presented at the Symposium will be made available on the CPS website very soon.
To read more about what happened, watch short interviews from the Symposium and find out a bit more about some of the research, please click on the articles below.
The Grower: CPS research runs the gamut from compost to UV light, includes video.
The Grower: Rapid tests under development improve pathogen testing
The Packer: Food safety requires commitment throughout supply chain
Were you spotted at the Food Safety Hub at PMA Fresh Connections, 2013?
Fresh Produce Safety Australia and New Zealand (FPS A&NZ) were proud to join several key organisations to host the first-ever Food Safety Hub, at PMA Fresh Connections Conference and Trade Show in Sydney last week. The Food Safety Hub was a one-stop-shop providing information for delegates wanting to know more about food safety for fresh produce. Were you spotted at the Food Safety Hub?
With thanks to PMA Fresh Connections for providing us with these images.
FPS A&NZ wishes to thank the following key organisations for their participation in the Food Safety Hub:
AUSQUAL Pty Ltd. – A certification body accredited by JAS-ANZ, providing quality management and food safety (HACCP) management systems.
Freshcare – Australia’s on farm assurance program offering training, implementation, certification and support programs.
GS1 Australia – Administers the global GS1 System of supply chain standards in Australia across 22 industry sectors, including the launch of the new GS1 GoScan iPhone App providing consumers with authorised and trusted food product information, and the new GS1DataBar to improve management of fresh foods.
BSI incorporating NCSI – Offering businesses certification, risk management, business improvement and assurance.
SAI Global – Providing information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement.
SGS Australia – A global company, provide industry leading inspection, verification, testing and certification services.
TQA Australia – Key management consultants to agribusiness in Australia, providing advice in a range of disciplines including food safety and quality assurance, environmental assurance, occupational health and safety, strategic planning and professional development.
Fresh produce safety important to industry: recognising young professional with award.
The entire fruit and vegetable industry shares the responsibility of providing customers with healthy and safe food and recent young professional award demonstrates the importance fresh produce safety has in the industry.
The Australian Institute for Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST) awarded the 2013 Young Professional in Agricultural Industry Award to Erika Watson, Fresh Produce Safety Project Officer at the University of Sydney.
In this role, Erika has been working towards the establishment a Fresh Produce Safety Centre, which will be dedicated to improving food safety for the fresh fruit and vegetable industries.
FPS A&NZ is a collaborative project funded by PMA A-NZ and the University of Sydney with matched funds from the government through HAL, and has been maintaining momentum towards this goal.
Outcomes have included a national forum with guest speakers from The Center for Produce Safety, UC Davis and PMA US, outreach activities such as the launch of the FPS A&NZ website, the monthly newsletter, an industry survey, and presentations at the Freshcare workshop, identifying research priorities and a call for research proposals and finally the inaugural Food Safety Hub at PMA Fresh Connections where delegates can find out more about the proposed Fresh Produce Safety Centre.
To read the full story about Erika and the AIAST award, click here.
Visit the FOOD SAFETY HUB at PMA Fresh Connections
Don’t miss the FOOD SAFETY HUB at PMA Fresh Connections this year!
PMA Fresh Connections Conference and Trade Show will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, in Sydney’s Darling Harbour from 11-13th June 2013.
The time is fast approaching, the trade show opens on the 12th June 2013 and the Food Safety Hub is bound to be buzzing.
Food safety and traceability are very important and highly relevant to all businesses in the fresh produce supply chain. Be sure to visit the Food Safety Hub to get all you need to know or contact the organisations on the booth to arrange a meeting at the Trade Show.
FPS A&NZ
AUSQUAL Pty Ltd.
BSI Incorporating NCSI
Freshcare
GS1 Australia
SAI Global
SGS Australia
TQA Australia
FRESHCARE WORKSHOP: Summary from the Freshcare team.
The recent Freshcare Workshop, held in Sydney, brought together experts from grower organizations, research institutions, retailers, wholesalers, auditors and trainers for two days of presentations, workshop sessions and networking opportunities.
Presentations from Horticulture Australia (HAL), University of Sydney and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) provided the latest information about the new US food safety regulations, food safety research priorities and the direction of food standards here in Australia.
“The biennial Freshcare Workshop brings together our stakeholders and experts from many fields to provide a forum for both professional development and for the exchange of ideas and information; helping us improve the certification programs we provide to industry.” said Clare Hamilton Bate, National Program Manager, Freshcare.
Over the two days, the delegates also received highly valuable and detailed updates on all aspects of the Freshcare Codes of Practice, including:
• Freshcare Food Safety and Quality
• Freshcare Environmental
• Freshcare Environmental – Viticulture
• Freshcare Environmental – Winery
“We covered a huge amount in the two-day workshop and feedback from delegates has been very positive.” Clare said.
Freshcare are making many exciting program developments, including discussion on the accreditation and international benchmarking (Global Food Safety Initiative – GFSI) of the Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Code and the development of online training resources.
Clare added, “Now the hard work begins, converting all the plans and ideas into practical tools, to benefit our most important stakeholder group – the growers, packers and wider industry for whom Freshcare is the key to compliance in both food safety and environmental assurance”.
Presentations and session overviews will be made available shortly.
For more information on any aspect of the Freshcare Program contact:
Freshcare Ltd
Web: freshcare.com.au
Email: info@freshcare.com.au
Tel: 1300 853 508
“Whats new in food safety for you?” presentation now available.
At the recent Freshcare Workshop 11-12 April 2013, Associate Professor Robyn McConchie (USyd) delivered a presentation on “Whats new in Food Safety for you?”
The presentation was based on information provided by Dr Bob Whitaker (PMA) and Ms Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli (CPS) and summarises some of the food safety research made available at the Center for Produce Safety 2012 Research Symposium.
Read Article →
Food Safety Hub at PMA Fresh Connections, 2013
Fresh Produce Safety Australia and New Zealand (FPS A&NZ) are proud to be hosting the first Food Safety Hub along with several key organisations, at PMA Fresh Connections Conference and Trade Show in Sydney this year. The Food Safety Hub will be one-stop-shop providing information for delegates wanting to know more about food safety for fresh produce.
“The Food Safety Hub aims to raise awareness of food safety and traceability among all stakeholders of the Australian and New Zealand fresh produce industry.” said Michael Worthington, CEO PMA A-NZ.
He went on to say ” This collaborative effort demonstrates a commitment to food safety and highlights how important food safety and traceability are for all businesses in the fresh produce supply chain”.
FPS A&NZ are excited to announce that along with FPS A&NZ representatives, several key organisations will be contributing to the success of the Food Safety Hub including:
AUSQUAL Pty Ltd. – A certification body accredited by JAS-ANZ, providing quality management and food safety (HACCP) management systems.
Freshcare – Australia’s on farm assurance program offering training, implementation, certification and support programs.
GS1 Australia – Administers the global GS1 System of supply chain standards in Australia across 22 industry sectors, including the launch of the new GS1 GoScan iPhone App providing consumers with authorised and trusted food product information, and the new GS1DataBar to improve management of fresh foods.
NCS International – Offering businesses certification, risk management, business improvement and assurance.
SAI Global – Providing information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement.
SGS Australia – A global company, provide industry leading inspection, verification, testing and certification services.
TQA Australia – Key management consultants to agribusiness in Australia, providing advice in a range of disciplines including food safety and quality assurance, environmental assurance, occupational health and safety, strategic planning and professional development.
FPS A&NZ will provide you with:
access to research in fresh produce safety,
allow you to identify food safety research priorities and
updates on the aims of the initiative of a collaborative paradigm to fresh produce safety.
“Fresh produce safety and traceability applies to all aspects of the supply chain in the fruit and vegetable industry, including growers, packers, processors, wholesalers, fresh produce retailers and distributors, ” said Robyn McConchie, University of Sydney, “all of which have a responsibility to supply consumers with food that is healthy and safe.”
Read Article →Dr Bob Whitaker’s Key Learnings from the CPS Wash Water Symposium
Dr Bob Whitaker, Chief Science & Technology Officer, PMA and Chair of the CPS Technical Committee, has made available his key learnings from The Wash Water Symposium at the Center for Produce Safety UC Davis that occurred in January this year.
To view the Key Learnings by Bob Whitaker please click here.
The symposium, was also attended by Australian representatives Dr Robyn McConchie (HoD Plant and Food Sciences, FAE, Usyd) and Mr Michael Worthington (CEO PMA A-NZ). To read more about the event, and to find the key learnings Robyn McConchie provided please click here.
Water Sanitation and Validation: Workshop Summary and Presentations.
In January 2013 Associate Professor Robyn McConchie (HoD Plant and Food Sciences, University of Sydney) and Mr Michael Worthington (CEO of PMA A-NZ) attended the Wash Water Sanitation and Validation Workshop held at the Center for Produce Safety CPS) in conjunction with the Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology.
The workshop provided an update on the latest research in wash water sanitation for all stakeholders, and drew attention on the participant’s experience to identify needs for research and training. Over 130 industry stakeholders from all parts of the supply chain attended, which indicates just how important this food safety topic is to the fresh produce industry.
Guest speakers included Bob Brackett, IIFSH, Devon Zagory, Zagory and Associates, Karan Khurana, Pulse Instruments and Drew McDonald, Danaco Solutions.
Associate Professor Robyn McConchie (HoD Plant and Food Sciences, University of Sydney) has provided us with the key take home messages from the presentations.
Download Robyn’s key messages here.
Devon Zagary’s presentation addressed the quality of wash water, the role and choice of disinfectants, the variables to monitor, and definition of critical control point, validation and verification.
Download Devon’s presentation here.
Karan Khurana described some of the wash water systems that are available, ways in which to monitor and verify the system and variables that impact the system.
Download Karan’s presentation here.
Drew McDonald reminded the audience of the critical opportunities and challenges they have encountered with wash water systems, and the critical questions the industry needs to address.
Download Drew’s presentation here.