FAQ’s: Related to COVID-19 impact on the Fruit and Vegetable industry

Q.  I have been contacted by several customers that purchased produce from me requesting extensions to our payment terms or to make partial payments as a result of the economic turmoil relating to the COVID-19 emergency.  I understand the predicament my customers are facing and am willing to try and help, but I am afraid I could jeopardize my trust rights under PACA.  Is there a way I can be flexible in receiving payment but not undermine my PACA trust rights?

AMS Career Opportunities

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) offers rewarding opportunities to talented individuals seeking exciting and challenging careers. AMS employs a diverse group of 4,000 professionals across the country who apply their knowledge and skills to create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber and specialty crops, helping ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food and a wide range of goods.

Detectability Testing

The regulations implementing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (the Standard) identify the requirements for detecting modified genetic material at 7 CFR 66.9.  In the final rule, AMS indicated it would provide industry stakeholders further instructions regarding (1) acceptable testing methodology used to satisfy that a food does not contain detectable modified genetic material and (2) validating a refining process. Instructions and FAQs can be found at the links below.

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