Greener Fields Together™ Taps NSF International To Help Ensure Safer Local Produce

MONTEREY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Greener Fields Together, a groundbreaking, industry-wide sustainability and local produce initiative launched by America's leading produce distributor, PRO*ACT, has partnered with NSF International to provide food safety and good agricultural practices education and verification for local farms. Bringing NSF International, a global food safety leader, onto the Greener Fields Together team is an important step toward achieving one of the initiative's primary goals: to ensure an abundant supply of safer, locally grown produce for customers nationwide.

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To participate as Greener Fields Together partners, all local farms must agree to annual food-safety audits such as those offered by NSF International (or, in some cases, to audits by another approved third-party certifier they may already be using) and complete an educational program designed to enhance the safety of their products. PRO*ACT's national network of distributors, who bring the Greener Fields Together initiative to market, are providing financial support to help local farmers in their markets to meet these requirements.

"Demand for local produce continues to grow, as does demand for more scientific, verifiable food-safety practices – including at the local farm level. Greener Fields Together is designed to deliver both supply and safety with confidence," says Michael Jantschke, Director of Food Safety for PRO*ACT. "Having independent NSF International training and verification is a significant benefit both to the local farmers and to those who ultimately purchase and consume their products through the Greener Fields Together supply chain."

David Richardson, Managing Director of NSF Agriculture says, "Combining NSF's food safety training and certification expertise with PRO*ACT's expertise in fresh produce is designed to enhanced sustainability and safer produce, whether it's grown by a national producer or by a regional or small local farmer."  NSF Agriculture helps food companies source locally-grown food by providing small producers with a cost-effective way to improve compliance with national and global food safety standards.

About Greener Fields Together:  Greener Fields Together is a collaboration of environmentally responsible parties, including farmers, distributors and foodservice operators, who have come together to make steady, measurable improvements in sustainability and food safety practices through all levels of the produce supply chain. For more information on Greener Fields Together, visit www.greenerfieldstogether.org

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About PRO*ACT: PRO*ACT is North America's leading distributor of fresh produce, sourcing from premier national, regional and local farmers. PRO*ACT streamlines the produce supply chain, offering significant cost benefits and an easy, one-call solution to source the freshest produce from more than 70 third-party inspected, independently owned, local distribution centers across the United States and Canada. PRO*ACT provides category cost management through commodity contract pricing, in-house consultation services and integrated produce program distribution management.

About NSF International: NSF International is a global independent organization that provides training, writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide.  NSF International's Global Food Safety Division provides GlobalGAP certification, as well as food safety, quality, animal welfare, organic and sustainable agriculture auditing, and certification for livestock, poultry and egg producers through NSF Agriculture. 

CONTACT: Mary Wright-Rana
                 831-658-1907, [email protected]

SOURCE Greener Fields Together