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Leafy Greens Growers On Arizona, Californa Meet Federal Deadline Ahead Of Schedule

Some Arizona and California farms growing leafy greens have met new compliance measures required for food safety - six months ahead of a federal deadline.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act set minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables. Drafted in 2013 and amended in 2014, farms had one to four years to comply with standards, depending on their size.

Now, the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements have updated their required food safety practices to align with the new law ahead of their due date.

Scott Horsfall, CEO of the California LGMA, said this action by both California and Arizona means 90 percent of the leafy greens produced in the U.S will be in compliance.

It is expected that LGMA members will begin being inspected to these new standards in early 2018 when compliance becomes mandatory.

Heather van Blokland was a host at KJZZ from 2016 to 2021.