La conveniencia que ofrecen ensaladas y otros producto s empaquetados prelavados y listos para servir, incluy-endo la espinaca, han sido artículos de gran venta.
El renombre de la espinaca ha crecido en parte debido a la conveniencia realzada y el desarrollo de los paquetes plásticos que permiten que los consumidores compren producto prelavado y precortado.
Septiembre 2006 presentó un brote causada por las bacterias de Escherichia coli (E. coli) el cual fue remontado a la espinaca fresca empaquetada y crecida en los campos de espinaca en el valle de Salinas, California.
Mientras que la búsqueda de la fuente de la contami-nación continúa, ahora centrado en la compañía Natural Selection y las nueve granjas que proveyeron productos, los granjeros dicen que están listos hacer lo que recomiendan los expertos para mejorar la seguridad de sus campos.
In California, where three-quarters of all domestically grown spinach is harvested, farmers could endure up to $74 million in losses due to the E. coli outbreak. In 2005, the spinach crop in California was valued at $258.3 million, and each acre lost amounts to a roughly $3,500 loss for the farmer.
Growers are trying to salvage what they can of their crops, but many say a loss of public confidence is the biggest threat to the industry. Before the E. coli outbreak, health-conscious Americans had driven up demand for spinach in salads and other healthy meals. California farmers have more than doubled the amount of acres dedicated to spinach to keep up with consumption, from 15,000 acres in 2001 to 31,000 in 2005, with much of the growth being driven by demand for pre-washed, packaged spinach.
The search for the source of the contamination continues, focused now on Natural Selection and nine farms that supplied it, and farmers say they are ready to do whatever experts recommend to improve the safety of their fields.
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Grower Shipper Association of Central California, United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers Association have joined together to work cooperatively with FDA
and state regulatory agencies to learn everything they can from this outbreak. They are working as one industry to enhance food safety safeguards to protect the public health. A joint statement was recently made by the companies; “we are already working together on a comprehensive plan to strengthen our existing food safety systems in a renewed effort to prevent future outbreaks. We are committed to complete adherence with the very best agricultural practices and all aspects of state and federal laws and regulation. We are committed to utilizing research as a critical tool to investigate sources of contamination, as well as training programs to enhance knowledge at every level of the supply chain. And, above all else, we are committed to ensuring our customers’ health.”
According to the Western Growers Association it is dedicated to providing quality services and programs that benefit and enhance the competitiveness of its members in the Arizona and California fresh produce industry. “When the E. coli news broke regarding spinach, WGA was at the forefront of the issue, assisting our members in the Salinas Valley with legal and media concerns. It is our desire that investigators will find the source of the outbreak so that our members can move forward in providing the American consumer with the best, fresh pro-
duce in the country.”
The WGA explained, “our members are doing anything and everything to restore the public’s faith. Beyond all of the steps taken in the past, growers are taking additional steps prior to the conclusion of the 2006 spinach season such as: pre-harvest food safety field inspections, industry re-start
cleaning and sanitation processes of all spinach equipment — above and beyond routinely scheduled cleaning and sanitation, the testing of all irrigation sources such as well and reservoir water, and the testing of soil”.
“The spinach you find on your grocers’ shelves is absolutely safe to consume. The FDA has lifted its ban on spinach and as a result, the fresh spinach you can now find in stores and on menus meets all food safety standards.”
Sources: Produce Marketing Association, Western Growers Association, Grower Shipper Association of Central California, United Fresh Produce Association
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