NASDA Members Join FDA and Industry Partners to Strengthen Food Safety Outbreak Prevention, Response and Communication

This month, Western Growers and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) hosted an FDA Human Foods Program leadership visit focused on this summer’s Cyclospora outbreak. Attendees included Director Brierley of Arizona, Commissioner Hurlburt of Connecticut, and representatives from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with California growers, trade associations, and academic researchers.

Roundtable discussions centered on the outbreak’s impact on domestic fresh produce production, driven by a decline in consumer confidence. FDA Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food Don Prater, joined by FDA’s Dr. Conrad Choiniere and Dr. Donna Garren, outlined 10 FDA activities planned ahead of the 2027 growing season. These efforts aim to strengthen prevention, enhance surveillance, expand industry outreach, and identify innovative solutions to reduce Cyclospora contamination of fresh produce. Attendees also heard from De Ann Davis, Senior Vice President at Western Growers, who shared insights on leveraging public-private partnerships to strengthen outbreak communication, highlighting how cross-sector collaboration can extend the reach of public health messaging and build public trust during an outbreak.

Attendees agreed that clear, consistent communication is essential to preserving consumer confidence in the safety of fresh produce. To that end, the NASDA Food Safety Program, led by Senior Director Joe Reardon, will form a working group to recommend strategies for aligning FDA and state communications before, during, and after foodborne illness outbreaks.

In-person attendees also toured Reservoir Farm in Salinas, California, an innovation center that helps founders build, test, and scale agricultural technologies that benefit farms.