GreenSheet | August 17, 2020

The Ventura County Food Safety Association (VCFSA) is hosting an online meeting entitled, “Produce Safety Rule — Regulatory Update Regarding Water.” The virtual meeting will take place on August 20 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and is free to VCFSA members. Non-members will be charged a $40 fee.

The guest speaker is Dr. Trevor Suslow, vice president of food safety for the Produce Marketing Association. Dr. Suslow has served as an extension research specialist at the University of California, Davis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a 2020 USDA Farm Survey and is asking farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners to complete the survey in order to help the USDA evaluate customer service and identify what works well and what is in need of improvement. Learn more.

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides federal funds to assist growers and handlers with the costs associated with applying for and maintaining organic certification under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. New OCCSP applications are due October 31, 2020.

In late July, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hosted a meeting in which they provided updates concerning their research projects. The recording of the update is now available online. 

Throughout the month of June, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, a sandwich chain based in Northern California, featured California avocados at 70 locations in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.

To help celebrate the passion and potential of the restaurant industry, which has been impacted by COVID-19-related furloughs, the California Avocado Commission participated in Flavor & The Menu magazine’s Kitchen Collaborative recipe development initiative.

California Avocado Month celebrates the versatility and freshness of premium California avocados at the height of the season. To generate excitement about the availability of the fruit, the California Avocado Commission leveraged the creativity of celebrated chefs and top-tier bloggers to showcase California avocados in a variety of dishes and recipes that incorporate unique preparation techniques and culinary trends.