United Fresh Produce Association Revenue and Competitors

Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (United) is the leading, national trade group representing member growers, shippers, packers, processors, marketers and distributors of fresh produce in the United States. United members provide the leadership to shape business, trade and public policies that drive our industry. Working with thousands of industry members, United provides a fair and balanced forum to promote business solutions; helps build strong partnerships among all segments of the industry; promotes increased produce consumption; and provides scientific and technical expertise essential to competing effectively in today's marketplace. United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association is 100% committed to food safety. Over the last decade, the produce industry has invested considerable time and resources to improve food safety from farm-to-fork and our efforts have clearly made a difference. The produce industry has gone through tremendous changes in an effort to remain profitable, satisfy consumer demands, conform to new technologies, and to compete in a global marketplace-all the while focusing on the safety of our products. The industry continually examines the latest scientific information to improve food safety practices. More companies than ever are using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), worker health/hygiene programs, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programs. However, we also know that this is just a beginning and there is more work ahead. With this in mind, we have a direct and vested interest in the development of the Agency's proposed action plan to minimize foodborne illness associated with the consumption of fresh produce, and we fully support the constructive and effective components of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) initiative, "Produce Safety from Farm to Consumption." United was pleased to provide comments at the public meeting held on June 29, 2004, outlining our initial thoughts on the key components of any produce safety initiatives undertaken by the Agency. We would like to expand upon those thoughts and provide the following for consideration as the action plan is further developed and implemented. The Federal Register notice announcing the June 29th meeting included a targeted list of nine questions participants were asked to consider in their public comments. At that time, the actual "plan" had not been publicly released. The Agency has now published its proposed strategy, "Produce Safety from Production to Consumption: A Proposed Action Plan to Minimize Foodborne Illness Associated with Fresh Produce Consumption," and is requesting input on its content. Our comments will be directed specifically at the draft plan. United must again note, as we did in our comments filed last week that these substantive comments cannot possibly constitute the end of this discussion. The issues presented by the Proposed Action Plan are too important to address in a single thirty-nine-day comment period. We look forward to continuing discussions with the agency to more fully develop our responses to FDA's inquiries.