New Zealand-specific risks and research gaps - Nicola King & Graham Fletcher

Update on COVID-19, SFFF Traceability, Food Safety Risk Ranking and Recycled Packaging Projects

Reliable and robust Traceability systems are no longer an optional extra in the produce industry, but a baseline requirement of increasing importance.

We have recently developed the Draft Traceability Guidelines that have evolved from the Sustainable Farming Fund Project “Effective Produce Traceability Systems”, managed by United Fresh.

Our SFF Traceability project is looking to assist members and the entire value-chain by providing some understanding on how internal Traceability systems can be improved and external Traceability systems can become more robust and streamlined.

United Fresh Technical Advisory Group Representative Anne-Marie Arts will be presenting an update on the Sustainable Farming Fund Traceability Project.

As you are aware, United Fresh was awarded a Sustainable Farming Fund project in June 2018, which is entitled “Effective Fresh Produce Traceability Systems” (Project 405482).

In light of the recent shocking Australian strawberry tampering event, the New Zealand produce industry is taking every action possible to reassure customers their safety systems are robust.

We are pleased to announce work has begun on a three-year project to investigate traceability within the industry.