USDA Recommends Proposed National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

PMA and others proposed the establishment of a national agreement to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in June 2009. The USDA then released a draft of the governance structure of an agreement for public comment later that year.

5/2/2011 --- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has announced it has formally recommended a proposed National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement which is scheduled for publication in the April 29 edition of the Federal Register. Produce Marketing Associationhas been working collaboratively with other regional and national industry organizations, as well as with the USDA in support of this effort and applauds the USDA in this crucial step to ensuring consumer confidence in the supply and safety of leafy greens.

While a detailed review of this proposal is needed, PMA believes the structure set forth by the voluntary marketing agreement will help the industry’s leafy green producers continue to reduce the risk of food borne illness. The produce industry has already seen the success of the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements and PMA supports this similar national effort that provides regional flexibility.

PMA and others proposed the establishment of a national agreement to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in June 2009. The USDA then released a draft of the governance structure of an agreement for public comment later that year. This new recommendation is the result of seven public hearings during 2009, in which PMA provided active support, and thousands of comments received on the 2009 draft.

While agreements such as these are enabled and enforced by government, it is the industry itself that creates the rules through the leadership and technical support committees.  PMA has long advocated industry involvement in regulation bringing the real-world practicalities of our business to the rules that govern it. The agreement will be voluntary to participate – but once a company chooses to participate, compliance will be mandatory for one crop year. After one year, growers would have the opportunity to withdraw or opt out of the program.

“When it comes to food safety, every company throughout the supply chain must commit to do its part to ensure public health and this proposal crosses geographic boundaries, company size, and type of production method,” said Mike O’Brien, PMA Chairman of the Board and vice president of produce, Schnuck Markets, Inc.  “A national marketing agreement facilitates a level playing field for companies that voluntarily adhere to it and demonstrates their commitment to the industry, food safety and public health.”

This latest proposal, which provides flexibility for a variety of opinions, calls for diverse representation from geography to farm size among its leadership, and would also include food safety experts from other agencies within USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and others.  In addition, the proposed standards contained within the marketing agreement would coincide with FDA’s ongoing work to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). PMA’s government relations program continues to ensure that not only today’s Agreement meets the needs of consumers, but that any legislative or regulatory programs impacting the produce industry represent the best interests of its broad array of members and stakeholders.

The next step is a 90-day comment period. If the majority of the comments are favorable, the marketing agreement will be adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture.