Fresh Cut Magazine

Guidance Addresses Lettuce, Leafy Greens Safety Issues

The safety of the food supply is on the minds of the American public and the federal government. The food supply – and lettuce in particular – has been singled out in recent months by the media as a source of human illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, since 1998, about 1,300 outbreaks caused by food-borne pathogens have occurred each year. The most recent outbreak occurred in September 2005, in which 26 people in Minnesota were allegedly made sick by Dole triple-washed bagged salads contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. E. coli is a bacteria that can cause intestinal pain and diarrhea. There has not been consensus as to how the bagged salads were contaminated, said Jim Gorny, vice president of quality assurance and technology for United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (United). “We really don’t know where the pathogen was introduced…  » Read more

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Fresh Focus: Packaging for Profit

There has been much debate this spring in Washington, D.C., as to whether national food safety labeling laws should become standard and pre-empt all state laws. The House of Representatives passed the National Uniformity of Food Act of 2006 in March, which is now in the hands of the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Labor, where it might get sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Groups supporting the legislation, such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), assert that the existing regulations allow state labeling practices to conflict with one another, fostering confusion among consumers, while a uniform national standard would aid consumers in making informed and educated decisions about the food they buy. Opponents of the bill, such as the Consumer’s Union, are concerned that state regulations governing food labeling – some stricter than the federal requirements – will be wiped out. For instance,…  » Read more

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Company Serves Up Fresh-Cut Convenience

Phil and Frank Gilardi have the produce industry in their blood: Their grandfather ran a wholesale produce business in the early 1900s. The brothers have built on that familial knowledge and now own Freshway Foods, a fresh-cut processing company serving the foodservice business. The Gilardis started the business in 1988 with the intention of focusing on fresh-cut produce, and Freshway Foods has grown from there. In 1992, the brothers built their first new processing facility in Ohio and added a second in 1996. In 2000, they consolidated all of their business to one plant, which today is more than 100,000 square feet. In December, Freshway Foods opened a facility in Sanford, Fla., allowing the company to better serve all markets east of the Mississippi River. “We’re able to get to every one of our customers within 12 hours,” said Frank Gilardi, who serves as CEO. “We…  » Read more

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Government Targets Employers of Illegal Immigrants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding its efforts to target employers of illegal aliens, which could have negative consequences for farmers and their workers. On April 20, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Julie Myers, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), unveiled a comprehensive enforcement strategy to reduce illegal immigration. They also announced the results of an enforcement operation against Houston-based IFCO Systems North America, the country’s largest pallet services company. Seven current and former IFCO managers were arrested and charged with conspiring to transport, harbor and encourage illegal aliens to reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. The charges carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each alien involved. Two other IFCO employees were arrested on criminal charges relating to fraudulent documents, according to…  » Read more

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On the ‘Merge’

The hot topic at IFPA Fresh-Cut Expo and the United Produce Show this past month was the merger of the two associations. The merger, approved by 98 percent of voting members, brings the two associations under one roof – and one name: United Fresh Produce Association. This is a big step for the produce industry, especially for the fresh-cut industry. This merger shows that the fresh-cut industry has arrived and is no longer a niche of the larger department. Fresh-cut is a majority of the innovation happening in the produce department – and it’s bringing in the dollars to prove it. The fresh produce industry as a whole is facing some challenges that affect every facet of the business – especially when it comes to food safety and government legislation. While IFPA staffers bring fresh-cut knowledge and focus to the table, the United staff brings experience working…  » Read more

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