Sunny, Sweet and, Most Importantly, Safe!

Now that Fall has arrived, we’re saying goodbye to another California cantaloupe season. This past summer, we’ve shared a lot of great cantaloupe-centric content from cute kid foods to unique Asian-inspired recipes and a trio of exciting prize giveaways!  It truly has been a sunny and sweet time.

The online content we create for our blog and social media channels when it’s not California cantaloupe season, leans toward information about how our cantaloupes are grown and the dedicated people who produce our favorite fruit.

One of the most unique and important things people should be aware of when it comes to California cantaloupe is that all producers of cantaloupe in California are part of a mandatory food safety program implemented in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

You may have seen news reports in recent months about companies recalling a variety of foods due to concerns of foodborne illness outbreak.  Or maybe you’ve watched a documentary currently running on Netflix that warns of dangers in the U.S. food supply.

Unfortunately, what you don’t often see is information about what farmers are doing in their fields, packing and storage operations to make sure our food is safe. And it’s a lot!

The California Cantaloupe Advisory Board’s food safety program was launched in 2012 following a tragic foodborne illness outbreak associated with cantaloupe grown in Colorado. For years prior to that, California cantaloupe growers had invested heavily in research to help determine the safest way to grow cantaloupe and growers had largely adopted these science-based food safety practices on their farms.

The program implemented by the Board in 2012 took these actions up a notch making a set of food safety practices mandatory for all cantaloupe producers in California. Additionally, the program requires that cantaloupe growing, harvesting, packing and cold storage facilities be regularly audited by government inspectors to verify producers are following the required practices.

The required practices cover a wide range of farming activities involving everything from regular testing of water used for irrigation to worker hygiene and restroom facilities.  The system is unique to California because it allows farmers to partner with government regulators to ensure the required practices are effective in an actual cantaloupe farming environment. And, the system utilizes third-party, independent government inspectors who have the force of the government behind them.

In addition to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board’s food safety program, California cantaloupe farmers are also subject to federal laws under something called the Food Safety Modernization Act. But the practices required under their own state program are more stringent and involve more frequent inspections by government officials.

When it comes to cantaloupe, you can be sure that growers take safety very seriously. They have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe for their own family and for families throughout the U.S. who love cantaloupe!

You can learn more and see a list of cantaloupe growers who participate in this mandatory food safety program here.