AUSTRALIAN produce’s international high quality standard has a new loudspeaker and defender.
The Produce Marketing Association Australia and New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) launched the Fresh Produce Safety Centre in Sydney last month.
The launch event saw the fresh produce industries from both New Zealand and Australia join to take proactive steps to further protect the region’s well-earned reputation for producing safe, quality food.
The new centre is dedicated to investigating and promoting the safety of the fruit and vegetables the countries eat and export.
More than 120 representatives of the fresh produce industry, regulators and academics attended the launch of the Fresh Produce Safety Centre, a highlight to the Fresh Produce Safety Conference which explored the latest advances in fresh produce research and how to extend research findings to those who need to know.
Timothy York, of US-based Markon Cooperative Inc told conference delegates how the US fresh produce industry joined together to form the Center for Produce Safety in the US in 2008, in response to a food safety issue in leafy greens in the US in 2006.
Michael Worthington, CEO, PMA A-NZ, said protecting Australia and New Zealand’s reputation for producing and exporting high quality and safe food is vital for both consumers and the industry.
“To minimise the risk of food crises, such as those that have occurred in recent years in Europe and America, our industry has joined together to establish the Fresh Produce Safety Centre,” Mr Worthington said.
“The Centre will enhance fresh produce safety throughout Australia and New Zealand, through research, outreach and education.
“We have been fortunate never to have experienced a disaster of the same level as overseas and we must do everything possible to prevent that sort of event happening.”
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence, officially launched the Fresh Produce Safety Centre at the conference.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the University of Sydney, Professor Mark Adams said the University of Sydney was delighted to host the Fresh Produce Safety Centre.
“It underlines the University’s continued engagement with industry and our commitment to identifying and addressing fresh produce safety research gaps,” he said.
NSW chief scientist and engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane, also welcomed delegates on behalf of the NSW Government, which sponsored the conference.