National Science and Education Conference on the "Guide to Minimize Microbial Hazards on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables"

In October 1998, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final version of "Guide to Minimize Microbial Hazards on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables." The Guide is intended to enhance produce safety by providing farmers and processors with a set of voluntary guidelines describing good agricultural and manufacturing practices designed to minimize the risks of pathogen contamination of produce. The Guide is being translated into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Additional translation to Southeast Asian dialects is planned.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), FDA, and several industry and trade organizations will hold a National Food Safety Science and Education Conference in the first or second full week of April 1999 to develop a process for providing an education and outreach program based on the Guide for growers and producers of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the United States. A Conference focusing on international outreach and education for growers and producers of imported produce is planned by FDA to be held later in April.

The Conference is intended to provide a forum for educators to discuss the Guide and current scientific and educational information with other experts in extension, government, and industry. The Conference will provide participants an opportunity to focus on sharing current strategies that enhance the microbiological safety of fresh fruits and vegetables. A major goal of the Conference will be to enhance the coalition-building process for those involved in implementing the Guide, while determining education and outreach needs and the most effective methods for meeting those needs. Conference participants will also help to identify educational research needs that will support implementation of the Guide. The combined activities of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and the Cooperative Extension System in support of, the Produce Initiative is critical for the success of the education and outreach effort.

In order to facilitate interactive discussion and participation, Conference attendance will be limited Forward requests for space availability to Anita Gresham at 202-401-4603, 202-401-5179 (fax), or agresham@reeusda.gov.