Fresh fruits and vegetables are important to the health and well being of the American consumer. Consumers enjoy one of the safest supplies of fresh produce in the world. However, over the last several years, the detection of outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with both domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables has increased.

The direction of food safety has evolved from a general one-size-fits-all approach to commodity specific food safety guidelines. Not all fresh fruits and vegetables are grown, harvested, handled, packed or shipped the same way. These guidelines are being developed and implemented within commodity industries for easy use and implementation on the farm and in the packing facility.