The United Fresh Produce Association, a trade group representing the vast majority of the produce industry, announced this week that it will be featuring a showcase of the latest developments in food safety technology and best practices this spring at the United Fresh 2010 conference in Vegas.
“As the produce industry’s only dedicated exhibit area focused exclusively on food safety solutions for all points in the fresh and fresh-cut produce supply chain, the Food Safety and Research Demo Center will help attendees answer pressing questions in this all-important industry field,” United Fresh said in a statement.
“Given the importance of food safety within the fresh produce industry, the Food Safety and Research Demo Center became a must at this year’s show,” said Dr. David Gombas, United Fresh senior vice president of food safety and technology. “Visitors to the center will be able to learn about advances in best practices, audit harmonization, pending legislation, and more, all in one stop.”
According to United Fresh, this year’s safety demo is being launched in part because of the success of last year’s traceability demo.
“We had such a resounding turnout and reception at last year’s center that its return in 2010 was a natural decision,” said United Fresh Vice President of Supply Chain Management Dan Vaché.
“With the progress that the industry is making on traceability, including the fulfillment of the first three milestones of the Produce Traceability Initiative, we have seen a tangible need for the solutions provided in the demo center and we look forward to what 2010 has in store,” added Vaché.
In addition to the Food Safety and Research Demo Center, the conference is also featuring a conference “aftershow,” the Global Conference on Produce Sustainability, as a new addition to the annual industry event. The event will be hosted immediately following the conference by United Fresh’s new Center for Global Produce Sustainability.