The Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ), the leading fresh produce industry association, has today released guidelines for the fresh produce industry during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The guidelines have been developed by PMA A-NZ to provide general guidance to assist producers of fresh produce to plan for and mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19 to their employees, their business and the supply of fresh produce to consumers.
This includes:
• Protecting the health and safety of a business’s employees, their families, and the broader community
• Ensuring the ongoing supply of fresh produce to Australian and New Zealand consumers, thereby supporting good nutrition and food security in this challenging time
• Facilitating, as far as possible, business continuity, thereby ensuring businesses survive and there is ongoing job security for your workforce.
“PMA A-NZ has released these guidelines to assist the fresh produce industry to navigate through the challenges posed by COVID-19”, says Deon Mahoney, Head of Food Safety at PMA A-NZ.
“We need to ensure we are doing everything we can to reduce the risk in fresh produce businesses to ensure there is business continuity so we can continue to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers”, Mahoney said.
PMA A-NZ has released a range of resources to help fresh produce businesses succeed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are free to the public at pma-anz.com.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, which can help boost the immune system and overall health”, Mahoney said.
