Foodborn Illness
U.S. Grown Produce is the Safest in the World
Recent attention to foodborne illness outbreaks may lead consumers to question the safety of the U.S. food supply. The truth is, there is a strong commitment by American farmers to ensure the safety of the foods they grow. Not only do their livelihoods depend on it, but the first person to eat product from a farm is usually the farmer themself or a member of the family.Farmers take very seriously their role in ensuring a safe food supply. Farmers and shippers routinely use third-party audits to verify their compliance with food safety standards and practices. These third party audits are conducted by companies with laboratories certified by the California Department of Health Services. Some, like the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, featured under "Special Reports" above are subject to mandatory government inspection.
While food safety begins in the farm, everyone plays a role. All produce should be handled with care taking the time to be extra careful is important when handling fruits and vegetables. For more tips, check out the FAQs above.