NC Fresh Produce Task Force

Industry and Community Relations

Conference Call – 6/18/08 at 9AM

Call in #: (919) 850-2992

  1. Welcome and introductions
  2. Attendees: Gene Cross (NCDA), Angelo Lasurro (Ann’s House of Nuts), Laura Cain (NCDA), Mark Howell (NCDA), Diane Duchane (NCSU Extension), Peter Gilmore (Dole Foods), Lindsey Kueffner (NCRMA), Leah Chester-Davis (NCSU Extension), Brenda Bacon (Harris Teeter), Jeff Hawley (Harris Teeter), Alan Leff (Primo Water), Debbie Hamrick (Farm Bureau), Maria Noriega (NCDA), Donna Wanucha (FDA), John Rushing (NCSU Extension), Kelly Jeffer (NCDA), Tammy ? (Public Health Bioterrorism Lab), Chris Gunter (NCSU Extension), Trevor Phister (NCSU Extension), David Bergmire-Sweat (Public Health), Sharron Stewart (NCDA), Karen Beck (NCDA), Wendy Campbell (NCDA), Claudia Rumfelt-Wright (NCDENR), Audrey Pilkington (NCDA)
  1. Overview of Purpose/Objectives: A network of government, university and industry collaborators work together in an effective and timely manner to communicate and address food safety incidences and concerns
  2. Review of previous work of Fresh Produce Task Force, funding sources, and objectives of Output #4
  3. Education modules under development with pilots to begin in November. Hope to provide NC Food Safety and Defense Task Force an overview of courses and possibly conduct risk communications training module.
  1. Update on Salmonella outbreak associated with tomatoes – Diane, Chris, and Trevor
  2. Review of work conducted by Task Force and industry: Media alerts, calls received, industry education provided
  3. Fact sheet and list of experts (Chris, Trevor, Diane, and Industry rep) was distributed by Diane Duchane of NCSU on June 10th along with NCDA. Chris and Trevor received a few phone calls – Dr. Rushing received several as the IFT communicator.
  4. Key points of discussion:
  5. Media wants statements such as NC tomatoes are safe, however, such statements are misleading. We can not guarantee safety, only highlight the measures we have in place in NC to prevent an outbreak and the fact we are not implicated in this outbreak.
  6. Excellent info developed by NCSU but we need to develop a network to provide the information to all (NCSU Consumer Services, NCDA field staff, local health departments). Also, should be a collaborative effort b/n NCSU, NC A&T, NCDA, Public Health, and other members of the NC Fresh Produce Task Force.
  7. Need to develop fact sheets for produce commonly associated with recalls, especially NC products.
  8. Fact sheets/guidance is needed for industry – signage such as we are serving FDA approved tomatoes posted by restaurants is not the best message
  9. Need to reference FDA press releases, but also provide an update on is being done in NC (highlighting educational efforts of Task Force, GAP certification program). Inconsistencies were noted b/n information released by FDA and States (such as New Mexico, Texas, and Florida).
  10. Several farmers were interviewed due to Salmonella outbreak demonstrating the need for risk communications training for farmers – this is one of the modules under development by the Education Committee.
  11. Harris Teeter removed tomatoes from FL before Florida was added to the approved list. Within 1 day, were able to purchase tomatoes from Georgia and SC. Harris Teeter was not bombarded with calls and sales were down only a few points.
  12. Discussed promoting NC produce and farmers market – however, Salmonella outbreaks linked to tomatoes occur every summer, so we must be extremely careful in the messages we provide. Conversely, we also do not want to create consumer panic and destroy the tomato market.
  13. Lessons learned& Future work planned
  14. Please review attachment
  15. The efforts of Diane and NCSU extension should be applauded – she took the initiative to provide accurate information and minimize the impact to tomato farmers in NC.
  16. Need to develop a notification of a network immediately when an outbreak has been identified, regardless if NC is implicated or not. Note: 1 confirmed and 3 pending cases of Salmonella in NC. Immediate action is required by the Committee.
  17. Fact sheets should be developed now and come from the NC Fresh Produce Task Force (logo needs to be developed with participating agencies). Should reference FDA info but could also include what NC is doing.
  18. Need to provide farmers a list of talking points – non-technical points. May also need to select a farmer to represent farmers.
  19. Public does not want technical information, but want to know what NC is doing.
  20. Discussed the pros and cons of testing
  21. May also want to help consumers identify point of origin easily – Florida is providing stickers/logos for free so consumers can identify tomatoes from Florida – Fresh from Florida program.
  1. Risk Communications Training Combined with ICS for Task Force and Industry
  2. ICS Instructor Mark Howell
  3. Has developed a concise ICS course – we need to determine how to connect the ICS training with the risk communications training module. Dependent on # of courses taught, Mark and Wendy may be able to conduct the courses. The agents at a minimum need to understand the ICS terminology that would be used in an incident.
  4. Further discussion is needed on the level of training required for agents, emergency response team members, fresh produce task force members, and industry
  5. Risk Communications training
  6. Plans are to roll out this training at the Sept. Food Safety and Defense Task Force meeting.
  1. Fresh Produce Curriculum Module Training – target early Sept. (please see notes above)
  1. Fresh Produce Investigation Course
  2. Laura Cain, Donna Wanucha, and Wendy Campbell attended course offered by FDA in February in Yuma, AZ. Course covers general microbiology and pathogens, conditions that lead to an outbreak, sampling procedures, and traceback. Uses FDA farm questionnaire. Requires a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in wildlife, microbiology, water systems, food safety, crop production.
  3. Could include course as part of a 3 tiered training program – awareness, conducting a mock audit, and emergency response.
  1. NC Food Safety and Defense Task Force – provide highlights of training at Sept. 10 meeting

Action Items:

  1. Begin development of a distribution list to provide information on current outbreak: please provide your distribution lists to Wendy Campbell. Think a little outside of the box – those you may not think, such as Emergency Management and field staff personnel, may be receiving questions and need the information.
  2. Develop logo for NC Fresh Produce Task Force that includes all associations participating. Web site, also?
  3. Develop fact sheets, talking points, guidance for signage – note: materials may be tailored to each audience (farmers, restaurants, retailers, extension, primary points of contact)
  4. Develop a three-tiered training program. Determine how to best combine the ICS training with the risk communications training. Also, develop fresh produce investigation team and provide a training course. Note: must be mindful not to duplicate efforts of the Education Subcommittee. Also, must determine the audience and level of training for each.
  5. Develop procedure to immediately activate the Committee during an outbreak, even if NC is not implicated – provides method to quickly ramp up if NC is implicated or outbreak is widespread in NC.