Good move, love California greens, but they need to be clean.
State OK's program to inspect leafy greens
By E.J. Schultz - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, February 9, 2007
The state agriculture department gave the go-ahead this week to an industry-driven in- spection program for lettuce and spinach handlers. The approval means the voluntary initiative could be put into practice by spring.
As of Thursday, enough handlers had signed up to account for about 85 percent of the leafy greens produced in the state, according to the Department of Food and Agriculture. Handlers are those who pack and ship leafy greens.
Under the program, safety labels will be affixed to show that lettuce and spinach was grown, packed and shipped using industry-developed best practices. The standards are still being finalized but could include irrigation water testing and banning the use of raw manure as fertilizer, for example.
