United Fresh will host a series of stakeholder meetings held in conjunction with the FDA public hearings on the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule. The first will be held February 27 in Washington, DC, immediately prior to FDA's public meeting on February 28 - March 1. The United Fresh meetings will provide opportunities for fresh produce industry stakeholders to learn about and respond to the proposed rules.

"United's extensive FSMA rules review process involves members from all segments of the industry, and these meetings will be critical to ensuring that the comments we submit are reflective of that," said Dr. David Gombas, United senior vice president of food safety and technology. "I encourage all members to review the resources that we have made available and attend a meeting to give us feedback."

Two additional United Fresh meetings will be announced as FDA releases dates and locations for their public meetings. FDA will hold a total of three public meetings for each of the rules, as required by law, with the remaining two expected to be held in other regions of the country.

United’s two working groups, one for each rule, have already begun a deliberative process to review the proposals. The working groups are comprised of United’s volunteer leaders, representing a broad spectrum and expertise of the produce industry. The working groups bring together members of the Food Safety & Technology Council, Government Relations Council, and other volunteer leadership groups. Comments generated by the working groups and the broader membership will be compiled and approved by United’s Board of Directors before being submitted to FDA.

For more information about the proposed Produce and Preventive Controls Rules, please visit United’s FSMA Resources page at: unitedfresh.org/fsma.