Fresh Produce Testing

Recent events have again highlighted the need for the fresh produce industry to have a more unified and coordinated response to issues that have the potential to adversely impact upon consumer perceptions and the consumption of fresh produce.

The issue in question this time, was media reports of chemical residues on strawberries.

The Market wholesaling sector’s national representative organisation, the Australia Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Limited which operates Fresh Test, a comprehensive national chemical residue testing service, was able to respond with factual information regarding the high level of compliance with food safety standards.

Similarly, Strawberries Australia stressed the strawberry industry's commitment to food safety. With the potential risk which exists for all sectors of the fresh produce industry, the question needs to be asked whether the industry as a whole has dropped the ball when it comes to this very important issue?

Up until last year, the fresh produce industry funded ‘Fresh Produce Watch’, which provided the services of a specialist who could respond to media statements with an informed assessment of the issue at hand and relevant facts in response to any outlandish or inaccurate claims being made.

This valuable service was funded by direct industry contributions with additional funding provided by Horticulture Australia Limited. Chemical residue and food safety scares have been shown to have the potential to seriously damage the fresh produce industry through depressed consumer demand and consumption.

Despite this, we have a situation whereby nationally there is currently no industry strategy in place and no industry nominated and sponsored spokesperson as the first point of reference should issues such as this arise.

While the Australian Chamber should be complimented for the service it is providing, more needs to be done to provide the additional resources which this issue demands.

The fresh produce industry should assess the priority being given to this issue and assess the need for an integrated service which monitors, educates and responds to issues relating to food safety and the consumption of fresh produce.