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.

“The 2nd edition of the Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Watermelon Supply Chain is now available for your use. Please call the NWA, USDA, your State’s Department of Agriculture or any of the third party audit firms with your questions or needs.

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.

NWA releases second edition of a Watermelon-specific Food Safety program for Farmers and Packers, the “Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Watermelon Supply Chain”
“Food safety has become a standard expectation of any produce industry to maintain and build consumer confidence. With the advent of produce outbreaks due to food safety issues, there has never been a more important time for our industry to build on our growing and handling practices to provide a safe, healthy watermelon supply. Although these guidelines are voluntary at this point in time, it is expected that they will become part of federal food safety legislation in the very near future. We look forward to supporting your efforts to implement these standards into your operation, to help you to protect our industry and your operation, to continue to provide a safe and healthy crop, and to continue to build consumer confidence. Together, we can make a difference.” Bob Morrissey, Executive Director National Watermelon Association, Inc.
Watermelon Food Safety Program Farm Self Audit Packer Self Audit Recordkeeping Documentation Logs Worker Hygiene and Training	Traceability HarvestMark Leger Case Study 2008 Frequently Asked Questions Supplemental Information and Detail Crisis Management

The National Watermelon Association is proud to release a complete Spanish-language version of our own watermelon food safety and traceability program called, "Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Watermelon Supply Chain".

- Reconocimientos - Nota_Para_Usuario - Prologo - Indice - Pautas de Seguridad - BUENAS PRACTICAS AGRICOLAS - Manejo de Animales Salvajes - Uso del Agua - Pautas de Inspeccion Sanitaria del Agua y Correccion - Higiene y Capacitacion de Trabajadores - Instalaciones para el Aseo de Manos y Banos - Control de Plagas en la Planta de Empaque - Normas sobre el Control de Plagas - Uso de Estiercol en los Establecimientos Agricolas - Empleo de Pesticidas en Establecimientos Agricolas - Uso de Abono en Establecimientos Agricolas - Recomendaciones de Limpieza para la Planta de Empaque y Almacenamiento - POLITICA SOBRE LAS JOYAS - Bioseguridad del Establecimiento Agricola - Almacenamiento y Transporte - Iniciativa de Rastreabilidad del Producto - Comunicado de Prensa - Rastreabilidad a Nivel de Articulo - Rastreabilidad - Mantenimiento de Registros - LISTA DE CONTROL DE LA DOCUMENTACION DEL ESTABLECIMIENTO AGRICOLA - LISTA DE CONTROL DE LA DOCUMENTACION DEL EMPACADOR - REGISTRO DE SANEAMIENTO DEL EQUIPO Y DEL TRANSPORTE - REGISTRO DE PRUEBAS DE LA FUENTE DE AGUA - REGISTRO DE DESINFECCION - REGISTRO DE FORMACION Y CAPACITACION SOBRE SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA PARA EL PERSONAL - REGISTRO DE LA TEMPERATURA DE ALMACENAMIENTO - REGISTRO DE CONTROL DE ROEDORES E INSECTOS - REGISTRO DE LOS ENTORNOS DEL CAMPO - REGISTRO DEL INGRESO DE VISITANTES - REGISTRO DEL CONTROL DEL TRANSPORTISTA - REGISTRO DE INSPECCION MENSUAL DE LA PLANTA DE EMPAQUE_1 - REGISTRO DE INSPECCION DIARIA DE LA PLANTA DE EMPAQUE - REGISTRO DE INSPECCION MENSUAL DE LA PLANTA DE EMPAQUE_2 - REGISTRO DE BANOS - Material de Capacitacion para el Trabajador - Lista de Control de la Auditoria Propia del Establecimiento Agricola - Auditoria Propia de Seguridad Alimentaria Establecimientos Agricolas de Sandias - Plantas de Empaque de Sandias_1 - Plantas de Empaque de Sandias_2 - Preguntas Frecuentes y Respuestas - Referencia - Gestion de Crisis - Glosario - Modelo del arte para CD - Portada_Segunda Edicion

Watermelon is an important crop in North and Central America, and one of the healthiest and safest fruits available to consumers today. It is because of the multiple generations of Americans that have enjoyed watermelon, and the hard working people in the industry that produce and supply our crop, that we began an industry-wide initiative in the spring of 2010.

Labeled, “Watermelon is Not a Melon”, we began a process of submitting comments to help FDA obtain information about current practices and conditions for the production and packing of fresh watermelon. As an industry, we are concerned about food safety requirements and rules as they relate to our crop. While we agree with GAP and GHP standards of food safety, we believe that FDA needs to make significant changes to their previous direction as it relates to a commodity-specific and risk-based approach.

To review the public comments, click here

To the hundreds in our association that submitted comments or contacted your Washington legislators, we thank you for your support. We continue to have dialogue with FDA in the hopes to finally have watermelon removed from the High Risk category, Melons. Thank you, and keep up the great work.

A few of our Congressional friends sent a letter to the FDACommissioner asking for her involvement in our project. To view the letterand see who signed it, please click here

Finding consumer information about recalled food products grew a bit easier with the launch of a FDA website that compiles recall notices in a searchable table. Click here for more

2009 Melon Standards
- FDA 2009 Melon Guidance
- Guide to minimize Microbial Food Safety

Traceability Case Study on Watermelons:
Produce Traceability Initiative releases their final recommendations and action plan
- HarvestMark Leger Case Study

2005 Melon Standards:
- Melon Food Safety Guidelines (Spanish)
- Melon Guidance Document
- http://www.cfsan.fda..gov/~dms/prodgui4.html

FDA Food Safety Plan
FDA outlines new Food Protection Plan

Food Safety Guidelines:
- 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