Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg will address produce industry leaders attending the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference on Friday morning, September 11.
“Given the importance of discussions about food safety legislation in Congress, Dr. Hamburg’s contributions to the White House Food Safety Working Group and the FDA’s recent issuance of commodity specific guidelines for tomatoes, melons and leafy greens, this is an outstanding opportunity for our industry to hear from the commissioner,” says United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel.
“Food safety continues to be a critical priority for United Fresh and we remain committed to working with Dr. Hamburg to pass sound, science-based food safety legislation and improve the health of all Americans by providing wholesome, fresh and safe fruits and vegetables.”
Appointed by President Barack Obama in March 2009, Dr. Hamburg has extensive experience in the field of public health, including work with the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Health and Human Services and most recently the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
In addition to hearing Dr. Hamburg’s remarks, conference attendees may also participate in a private, interactive town hall meeting with FDA officials.
Dr. Hamburg joins a growing list of speakers at the Washington Public Policy Conference, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, September 10.
This year marks record attendance for the United Fresh Washington Public Policy Conference, with more than 425 registrants, making it the largest produce industry event of its kind in the nation’s capital. The three-day annual conference, September 9-11 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, will provide attendees the opportunity to engage in a wide range of policy-oriented activities, including the popular Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill, with honorary co-hosts Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Representatives Colin Peterson (D-MN), John Lucas (R-OK), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) and Adam Putnam (R-FL) as well as visits to more than 140 congressional offices, the U.S. Capitol and the Canadian Embassy.
