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By René Hardwick, Director of Public and Industry Relations, National Onion Association
Members of the National Onion Association (NOA) got started immediately at the annual convention in December to begin sketching out an updated version of the industry’s food safety guidelines, which hadn’t been updated in a decade.
The last guide that was completed by the NOA was in 2010, and it doesn’t address a lot of issues that are current, said Jennifer McEntire, vice president of food safety and technology for the United Fresh Produce Association.
McEntire walked a large group of onion growers at the 2021 annual convention, held Dec. 1-4 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, through some early steps in updating the guidelines. NOA leadership already has created a committee of members to keep the document moving, with a plan to finish it by June.
“To me, it’s equally part technical. What do you need to do for food safety? But it’s very much a communication and PR piece. How do we want to influence buyers? Then we need buy-in,” McEntire said.
Many growers expressed frustration about how all complaints come back to them when onions way down the supply chain are found with issues. Specifically, they mentioned large retailers who change the playing field so much that a document of best practices might not be able to keep up. Many worried that coming up with more checks in their systems would make them inefficient.
“I wouldn’t be surprised in making this update to best practices, if it doesn’t result in a change in what you actually do,” McEntire said. “It documents and communicates what the industry at large is doing, sets that expectation maybe for people who aren’t doing them.
“For those who are already doing what needs to be done, it shouldn’t change. There’s no benefit in doing more if you’re already doing good enough. I don’t see this as being onerous for people who are already operating at reasonably high standards.”
Several members who will be part of a committee to make the changes will be identified. The group of NOA members who will go to the annual Fly-In to Washington, D.C., Feb. 20-23, will meet with McEntire for another discussion in addition to their other meetings and congressional visits.
Also on the Agenda
While the heavy conversation settled on food safety issues, there was a lot of other business to take care of. At the annual dinner, the NOA recognized Nunhems-BASF as the 2021 Legislative Advocate of the Year and Top Air Inc., owned by Duane and Kris Kido, as the 2021 Promotions Champion. Both were awarded for their continued unrivaled commitment to these individual causes at NOA.
The annual raffle brought in almost $23,000 (after winnings and expenses) to benefit the promotions program. The raffle winner was Braxten Wagstaff, 7, son of Tyler and Brette Wagstaff, who attended the meeting for Central Produce Distributors in Oregon. Braxten had big plans for the $4,500 prize check. The top seller was Doug Stanley with Harris Fresh in Coalinga, California. He will receive a $200 check for his efforts.
The NOA also awarded Randi Svaty of Northwest Farm Credit Services with her “3 or More” jacket, which she earned in 2020. Members who recruit three or more new members in a calendar year can join this prestigious club of dedicated members who help secure and strengthen NOA membership.
The NOA invites members to attend this year’s summer convention July 6-9 in Boise, Idaho. There, attendees can participate in the continued work and/or finalization of the food safety guidelines and the annual summer auction. Anyone considering donating an auction item this year is asked to email René Hardwick at rhardwick@onions-usa.org.
