Food safety with any fresh or fresh-cut fruit or vegetable has been and will continue to be a high profile topic across our country, and our world, for many years.  As a result, the NWA continues to work with the NWPB in support of the Crisis Management program that the NWPB is leading.  If at any time there is an issue related or reported to be related to food safety with watermelon, the team will engage in the process.  The NWA is part of that team, and will be diligent in our collective efforts if such an issue should arise.

Additionally, the NWA has taken on the responsibility to develop a GAP Certification communications program in conjunction with the USDA and other cooperating crop commodities, along with a food safety guidelines document.  This program will allow us in future years to conduct farmer meetings across the country in conjunction with outreach sessions with the anticipated support of county extension agencies.  This educational process will immediately begin following the completion of the watermelon program, and is anticipated to be available to the industry beginning in 2008.

Until that time, we have supplied a number of key documents, websites, and posters that you may wish to review, use or begin the certification process with.  In the end, it is up to each and everyone of us to make sure that our farms and sheds (including laborers) are following best practices to minimize the possibilities that could plague our crop industry.  Please join us in this effort, and continue to help the Watermelon Industry to be safe, healthy and nutritious.

Costa Putman:

NWA Executive Director Bob Morrissey said, "We worked with U.S. House staff in crafting this legislation, and believe that our industry can work with its framework as we continue in a parallel path toward needed food safety programs. We expect a very similar bill to be introduced soon by Senator Durbin (IL) in the U.S. Senate. Food safety of produce is taking a high road in Congress, and we look forward to working with our legislators and staff to assure consumers of a safe, fresh food supply."

- Costa Putman Bill
- Costa Putman Facts
- Costa Putman Sections

Traceability Case Study on Watermelons:
- HarvestMark Leger Case Study

Melon Standards:
- Melon Food Safety Guidelines (Spanish)
- Melon Guidance Document
- http://www.cfsan.fda..gov/~dms/prodgui4.html

FDA Food Safety Plan
- FDA Food Safety Plan - English Version
- FDA Food Safety Plan - Spanish Version

Food Safety Leadership Council:
- FSLC On-Farm Standard
- Publix Supplier Letter
- Western Growers Response
- United Fresh Produce Association and 23 other crop organizations respond to Food Safety Leadership Council’s On-Farm Produce Standards
- NWA supports fruit & vegetable industry’s response and requests a commodity-specific approach to food safety for watermelon

Food Safety Guidelines:
- Food safety spending appears on the rise
- Voluntary Food Safety Guidelines for Watermelon
- Food Safety Questionnaire
- Self Assessment Sheets
- USDA Grading & Certification
- Introduction to Voluntary Guidelines for Control of Microbial Hazards
- Traceability Committee Lays Groundwork for Industry-wide Standards
- UFPA Traceability
- UFPA  Food Safety Policy
- UFPA Commodity Specific Food Safety Solutions

Food Safety on the Farm:
- Food Safety on the Farm
- Food Safety on the Farm - Spanish Version

Posters:
- Good Hygiene
- Hand Washing Poster
- Posters

Website links:
- http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/
- http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvstand.htm
- http://www.cfsan.fda..gov/~dms/prodsafe.html
- http://www.foodsafety..gov/~dms/fs-toc.html
- http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtact.html
- http://www.cfsan.fda..gov/~dms/prodpla2.html
- http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/
- http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/weblinks.html