Tomatoes and Food Safety

The Florida Tomato industry has been actively working with State and federal regulatory officials and industry members to enhance the food safety of tomatoes and to identify specific areas of research needs. A forum was held November 30th outlining the food safety problems and presenting recommendations to move forward cooperatively to improve food safety practices. Our Tomatoes and Food Safety site offer GAPs, BMPs, research references and key links, as well as presentations from the forum.

Critical Issues in Tomato Production in Florida

A Special Research Report
View the report.

Florida Tomato Exchange Forum
November 30, 2006

Sponsored by UF/IFAS and the Florida Tomato Exchange.
Go to the Forum Web Page

GAPs & BMPs Links

• "Tomato Good Agricultural Practices" as adopted on 09/07/06.
• Florida tomato industry representatives were involved in the writing of the "Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain" and this was adopted under the T-GAP and T-BMP document.
• "Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables," FDA/USDA/CDC, Published October, 1998.
• FDA's "Produce Safety Action Plan."
• "Safe Handling of Fresh Produce and Fresh –Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices" (Consumer Piece).

Research References

• "Tomato References." Robert Buchanan, Ph.D.
• "Tomato Bibliography." Robert Buchanan, Ph.D.

Follow-up Actions

• "Letter from AFDO regridng Tomato GAPs & BMPs" dated 12/20/2006.

Other Links

• "Food Safety on the Farm - An Overview of Good Agricultural Practices"
• "Food Safety on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices - Water"
• JIFSAN & IFAS hold Tomato Safety Research Needs Workshop.