Produce Safety Stakeholder Dialogue

The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA is leading a stakeholder dialogue process to explore new strategies for produce safety and the development of a collaborative entity to drive progress. Ensuring the safety of fruits and vegetables requires a holistic approach. To aid in the goal of improved protection of public health and establishing a collaborative entity, the Foundation is collaborating with stakeholders from agricultural communities, industry, academia, and government to develop a shared understanding of the challenges and a vision for protecting public health. The Foundation has engaged a group of key stakeholders to guide the 6-month effort, and has engaged Food Safety Strategy’s Dr. Jennifer McEntire and Ms. Gretchen Wall to support the initiative.

Stakeholder Input

The Foundation solicited perspectives, interest, and volunteers via a short questionnaire.

We appreciate the nearly 200 individuals/organizations who responded from all sectors involved in produce safety.

Based on the input and willingness of stakeholders to engage as indicated through the questionnaire and other outreach, the Foundation has formed working groups to refine priorities and articulate positions of various key stakeholders and their constituents, beginning in January 2025. The nine work group topics, descriptions, and work group leaders are listed below.

Extension & Training
Implementation of best practices and regulations pertaining to fresh produce through extension frameworks and effective training
Work group lead: Sonia Salas, Western Growers

Attracting Talent & Education
Mechanisms for attracting and developing qualified individuals to enter the field of produce safety
Work group lead(s): TBD

On-going Government/Private Sector/Non-Profit Collaboration
Goals and approaches to achieve sustained progress on produce safety through cross-collaboration
Work group lead: Susan Winckler, Reagan-Udall Foundation

Produce Safety Research Needs
Solving problems related to produce safety research including funding (public and private), research priorities, utilization of existing knowledge, and innovative approaches to research
Work group lead(s): Dr. Michelle Danyluk, University of Florida & Dr. Don Stoeckel, Cornell University- Produce Safety Alliance

Industry-Regulatory Collaboration
Maintaining and building productive, collaborative relationships between regulators and industry members
Work group lead(s): Natalie Dyenson, International Fresh Produce Association & Joe Reardon, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Policy & Economic Opportunities
Exploration of existing public policy and opportunities for creation/advocacy for new policy that support, incentivize, and motivate improvements to produce safety
Work group lead(s): De Ann Davis, Western Growers & Connor Kippe, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

One Health / The Agricultural Ecosystem
The interrelationship of agriculture and environmental factors that may influence produce safety and how they can coexist in a way to enable all forms of agriculture to thrive
Work group lead(s): Joelle Mosso, Western Growers & Natalie Krout-Greenberg, California Department of Food & Agriculture

Buyer-Supplier Collaboration for Produce Safety
Driving adoption of produce safety best practices by produce buyers based on sound science, practicality, and financially feasible approaches
Work group lead: Mike Taylor, Stop Foodborne Illness

Imports
Key components of a global produce supply chain and verification of practices to ensure the safety of imported fruits and vegetables
Work group lead: Gustavo Reyes, Western Growers

This project is anticipated to culminate in a meeting in April 2025 to discuss a priority roadmap for produce safety. A report will be issued after the meeting to guide FDA and others in understanding perspectives on produce safety and a pathway to create the proposed partnership.