SACRAMENTO, CA - As new rulings take shape and clarity on their potential impact emerges, the California Fresh Fruit Association is aiming to deliver both information and support for growers. The latest update in question is a finalized rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revising certain pre-harvest ag water requirements.

“One of the main drivers for this new rule was the determination that existing pre-harvest water microbial quality criteria alone, particularly as they relate to surface water, were not a reliable indicator of food safety risk, and therefore, an emphasis has been placed on hazard identification and risk assessment to inform management decisions,” the association said in an emailed newsletter.

Compliance dates for the new rule are:

• Two years and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for very small businesses
• One year and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for small businesses
• Nine months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses

As part of the assessment, farms are required to evaluate several factors to identify conditions that “are reasonably likely to introduce food safety hazards into or onto produce or food contact surfaces.” Under the rule, requirements are established for systems-based pre-harvest ag water assessments that farms use for hazard identification and risk management decision-making purposes. Further details about the final rule, including overview, requirements, and outcomes, are available here.

Exemptions from the assessments are listed in the rule’s details, such as a number of demonstrations for pre-harvest agricultural water for covered produce (other than sprouts).

We thank the CFFA and associations like it, which continue to take steps to ensure growers are both informed and supported throughout the process of providing fresh produce.