United Fresh 2012 Fresh Impact Tour

Fruit and vegetable growers, distributors and retailers in Washington will have a chance to meet with United Fresh Produce Association staff to discuss issues that are important to their businesses during town hall meetings at four state locations this month. The town hall meetings are part of this year’s Fresh Impact Tour. The UFPA, founded in 1904, assists companies and growers in the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry with everything from providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, to shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, while also developing educational programs and business opportunities. Ray Gilmer, with United Fresh, talks about the Fresh Impact Tour.

GILMER: The Fresh Impact Tour is United Fresh’s way of taking the staff that are based here in Washington and at our regional offices and spending a concentrated amount of time on the road talking to members and hearing the issues that are important to them, seeing their operations and exchanging ideas.

Gilmer says issues to be discussed during town hall meetings will run the gamut.

GILMER: It’s going to be everything that’s on their minds; market conditions, trade, traceability, especially with the anticipated release of the FDA rules on food safety, and the sustainability is also something that is increasingly becoming important. Sustainability is becoming one of the things that buyers are asking of their suppliers. There are some good examples of sustainable practices in Washington, and we’d like to see examples of that.

For more information on town hall dates and times visit unitedfresh.org.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.