Georgia group, United Fresh team up for crisis communication webinars

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is collaborating with the United Fresh Produce Association’s Recall Ready Team to provide a five-webinar series on Crisis Communications for the produce industry. These 15-20 minute webinars will be available at no cost to the specialty crop industry. Registration and additional information to come soon.

Several years ago, United Fresh Produce Association developed the Recall Ready Program which is an exclusive group of education and training services that leverages the expertise of the food industry’s leading professionals. This program is a partnership between United Fresh, OFW Law, and Watson Green, LLC. Working together, the UFPA Recall Ready Team leverages the expertise of food safety, legal, and crisis communications professionals who know what it takes to execute a recall to protect public health, comply with all government requirements, and minimize the impact on your business.

While the Recall Ready Program focuses specifically on preparing for a food borne outbreaks and recalls, the principles in preparing for any crisis are universal. Webinar topics are listed below:

• Managing a Crisis
  • Presented by Amy Philpott, Watson Green, LLC
  • Crisis Management 101: The principals and elements of managing any crisis
• The Anatomy of a Food Recall
  • Presented by Amy Philpott, member of the UFPA Recall Ready Team
  • How do recalls unfold and how can a plan help you prepare?
• When FDA Comes a ‘Knocking
  • Presented by David L Durkin, member of the UFPA Recall Ready Team
  • Regulartory requirements and how to meet FDA expectations during a recall
• Traceability & Other Technical Aspects of a Recall
  • Presented by Dr. Jennifer McEntire (or Dr. Emily Griep), member of the UFPA Recall Ready Team
  • Will your food safety and traceability systems hold up to the demands of a recall?
• Crisis Communications
  • Presented by Amy Philpott, member of the UFPA Recall Ready Team
  • A recalling company’s reputation is at stake and communication can make a difference.

GFVGA is excited to offer this series of webinars that allow farms and operations to be better prepared for a crisis. These webinars are made available at no cost to the specialty crop industry through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant.

– Beth Oleson, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association