In 2015, Food safety was identified as a top priority area of focus for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), and members agreed that while many organizations focus on food safety research, there was very little which specifically addressed the Canadian produce industry. The CPMA Food Safety Committee suggested to the CPMA Board that a model for outcome-based food safety initiatives be created. To support the development of this model, CPMA conducted a thorough review with key produce industry stakeholders to identify the resources and tools the produce industry (CPMA members specifically) wanted from CPMA in relation to food safety.
The following areas were identified in the review process as key areas CPMA needed to address/manage:
• Management commitment and food safety culture
• Employee training and personnel knowledge and education
• Traceability standards
• Implementation of food safety schemes
• Crisis management
• Research pertinent to the Canadian context
• Support to standardize food safety requirements for retailers
• Consumer education
• Market research
To support these needs, CPMA’s Board of Directors has agreed to the following strategy which will be further developed over the coming year:
1. CPMA will provide resources for enhancing employee and management knowledge in the area of food safety:
o Areas that require immediate attention include microbiology, risk assessment, trend analysis and commodity-based best practices, which will be accomplished through webinars, guidance documents/summaries and/or by having direct access to experts.
2. As an immediate priority, CPMA will provide support to members on upcoming regulations, as well as management commitment and food safety culture.
3. CPMA will provide funding for applied food safety research that is directly applicable to the Canadian produce industry.
4. CPMA will maintain and/or enhance its role when representing members in government and multi-sectoral/multi-country consultations and/or meetings.
To action this renewed food safety strategy, CPMA is seeking a Food Safety Specialist. The Food Safety Specialist will hold primary responsibility for CPMA’s food safety efforts and will act as the principal liaison with all food safety stakeholders including: industry, government, academia and other stakeholders. Through their efforts the incumbent will lead the empowerment of industry on awareness, understanding and the culture of implementing food safety standards across the fresh fruit and vegetable sectors. The incumbent will also be responsible for responding to member food safety inquiries, crisis management, monitoring domestic and international regulations, developing/delivering education/training programs to CPMA members, and resourcing public/private funding for food safety research.
A detailed job description can be found at www.cpma.ca/careers
Contact:
Vanessa Schwarz
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Tel: (+1) 613-226-4187 x225