Press Releases
Annual Educational Symposium Features Key Topics for Tree Fruit Industry
3/7/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sheri Mierau
Reedley, CA (559) 638-8260
REEDLEY, Calif. – March 7, 2008: The Annual Educational Symposium featured key topics for the fresh peach, plum and nectarine industry for the second year in a row. Held on February 26 at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center, the symposium hosted more than 100 growers, marketers and guests and featured topics from retailer insight, to policy, technology, marketing and food safety.
The program began with presentations and a panel discussion by Don Harris of Naturipe Farms, LLC and Peter Meadows of The Garden-U.K. Meadow’s presentation featured insight into the United Kingdom retail environment, including information on GlobalGAP and opportunities for California stone fruit. Harris’s presentation featured information on the opportunities and challenges in the domestic retail environment, including food safety, “buy local” and consumer expectations. Stating that taste is the primary factor influencing produce purchases, which at times can be compromised due to a retailer’s lack of expertise to properly store and handle produce.
During lunch, Barry Bedwell, President of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League provided an overview of key issues facing agriculture and the tree fruit industry. At the top of the list is the availability and cost of labor. Other issues discussed include water supply, air quality regulations and invasive pests.
Following lunch, two concurrent sessions were held. The first highlighted technology advances in the stone fruit industry with presentations by Kelly Kirschner of Sinclair Systems International, LLC and Kelvin Farris of Aweta-Autoline, Inc. Kirschner’s presentation highlighted item level DataBar™ and the utilization by retail. Farris’ presentation featured information on sorting technology advances, including firmness sensors which can measure fruit firmness, brix level sensors and vision sorting for external blemishes. The second session was presented by the California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA) marketing staff and highlighted tools and resources available to industry, as well as information on the new marketing program, the Summer C.
The day concluded with a “next generation” Food Safety session from Dr. Trevor Suslow, of University of California and Will Daniels of Earthbound Farm. Dr. Suslow presented information on commodity specific Good Agricultural Practice’s for stone fruit, emphasizing the need for priority on a “top-down” commitment to quality and safety. During his presentation he said, though there have been no recorded food safety issues in stone fruit, recent outbreaks in produce have caused major changes in attitudes and approaches to the safety of all perishable produce. Daniels, Vice President of Food Safety, Quality and Organic Integrity for Earthbound Farm, shed some light on individual company policy’s that can be put in place to provide consumers with a safe food supply. Similar to Suslow, he also emphasized that a successful food safety program comes from a strong company culture of commitment to food safety.
“For the second year now, the symposium has provided the industry with insight and information on key agricultural issues,” said Sheri Mierau President of the California Tree Fruit Agreement “The symposium provides an excellent forum for the industry and we look forward to continuing the annual event.”
Originally established in 1933 and headquartered in Reedley, California, the California Tree Fruit Agreement is funded by and administers marketing order programs on behalf of California's more than 1,100 fresh peach, plum and nectarine growers.
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