December 3, 2007

ISSUE 1195

FDA KICKS OFF TOMATO SAFETY INITIATIVE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration kicked off the Florida portion of its 2007 Tomato Safety Initiative on Nov. 28 at the IFAS Gulf Coast Research & Education Center in Balm. More than 100 growers, industry representatives including FFVA President Mike Stuart, university scientists, and federal and state regulatory officials attended the daylong conference.

FDA officials thanked the industry for the “unprecedented cooperation” they have received since the program began on the eastern shore of Virginia this past summer.

Officials said they will begin to schedule visits with individual growers and packinghouses in the upcoming weeks.