Editor’s note: The following is one of the issues highlighted in The Packer’s Year in Produce 2023 review.
In 2023, the produce industry faced several challenges, including a significant recall of fresh-cut and whole cantaloupes toward the end of the year. Yet, the industry remains optimistic of the strides made this year. Here are some of the stories that made headlines.
January
Eurofins Scientific opens labs in Salinas Valley
Global testing company Eurofins Scientific partnered with the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California to bring Eurofins’ food safety and testing solutions to the produce industry.
April
Revolution Farms recalls lettuce
Revolution Farms recalled all products due to possible listeria contamination. The Michigan Department of Agriculture said a random sample test of a package of Revolution Farms Green Sweet Crisp tested positive for listeria. The company expanded the voluntary recall on April 6 when MDA linked the recalled product with a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.
July
Canada heightens requirements to import romaine and salad mixes
The Canadian government issued new, temporary control measures for romaine grown in California’s Salinas Valley from Sept. 28 through Dec. 20. To import romaine or salad mixes containing romaine from the California counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey, the importer had to provide a preventative control plan that includes details on how romaine sampling and testing occurred.
August
Company voluntarily recalls kiwis
Grower-distributor David Oppenheimer and Co. voluntarily recalled all 1-pound clamshells of Zespri brand organic green kiwifruit because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
LGMA CEO addresses ‘Poisoned’ documentary
Tim York, CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, shared his thoughts about the portrayal of leafy green producers in the Netflix documentary, “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.”
“The facts are, the U.S. leafy greens producers have dramatically changed the past 15 years to focus and invest in food safety with exhaustive food safety audits, mandatory traceback systems and monthly water testing that takes place on our farms,” he wrote in a guest column for The Packer. “We have enforced science-based, rigorous standards and regulations on ourselves.”
September
LGMA adopts Western Growers’ GreenLink
California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement members adopted Western Growers’ proprietary GreenLink data-sharing platform to collect and analyze food safety data. LGMA said this move will help the industry use a standardized data-collection approach to gain industrywide insights.
November
Frank Yiannas talks food safety and prevention
Frank Yiannas, former FDA deputy commissioner for food policy and response, shared his thoughts with The Packer on how prevention keeps fresh produce on the table and out of foodborne outbreaks.
“Between 2009 and 2018, the FDA and CDC identified 40 foodborne outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections in the U.S. with a confirmed or suspected link to leafy greens,” he wrote. “I personally think it’s a result of collaborative action by stakeholders to implement measures outlined in the Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan. “
December
Imported whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe part of FDA recall
The FDA recalled fresh and pre-cut imported cantaloupe following an outbreak of salmonella that now sickened 230 and killed 3 people in 38 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Packer subsequently reported on Dec. 7, Pritzker Hageman food safety lawyers filed the first lawsuit.
On Dec. 13, The Packer reported Slater Vecchio, a legal firm specializing in personal injury claims, filed a class action lawsuit for people in Quebec who purchased, consumed and got sick from cantaloupes in a salmonella outbreak. Health Canada reported 129 cases of salmonella, with 91 of those cases in Quebec.
FDA updates stone fruit recall with stores impacted by listeria outbreak
The Food and Drug Administration said HMC Farms voluntarily recalled conventionally grown peaches, plums and nectarines sold in stores between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2022, and May 1 and Nov. 15, 2023. The FDA noted this recall is in response to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Spinach recalled by Fresh Express for possible listeria contamination
Fresh Express voluntarily recalled its Fresh Express Spinach and Publix Spinach due to a potential risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The company said it distributed the recalled items to retailers in the Southeast.
— Compiled by Christina Herrick
