February 18, 1999

Dear Food Safety Specialist:

The issue of food safety has been a concern of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW) for many years. The UFW recognizes quality produce is a direct result of clean and healthy growing conditions. A safe workplace, as well as a cleaner environment and water supply are vital elements in ensuring that wholesome food is produced. Since its inception, the UFW has fought for safe and healthy workplaces for the sake of the workers and the consumers.

In the state of California, where more than 50% of fruit and vegetable crops are produced, food safety is a growing concern. Following recent food safety cares, cyclospora, e-coli, and hepatitis have become household words. Contaminated foods cause an estimated 10,000 deaths and more than 25 million illnesses every year in this country.

The direct liability and the impact of food scares on consumers has brought some shippers and growers to take additional steps to increase confidence in their product. An increasing number of growers and food distributors are hiring third party inspectors to monitor products. According to The Packer Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc., of Watsonville, CA, is one such company. They have hired PrimusLabs.com, of Santa Maria, CA, for a "rigorous third-party, independent audit" program that evaluates the company’s safety procedures.

PrimusLabs.com advertises itself as providing third party verification programs, a review done by a Research Department found interlocking relationships between PrimusLabs.com and some of the companies for whom they provide auditing services. According to public documents, several of Primus’ client companies key executives also are key decision makers for PrimusLabs.com.

Robert Sheehy, who owns 5% or more and is one of the original founders of PrimusLabs.com, is one of the largest strawberry growers in Santa Maria growing for Driscoll.

Allen C. Teixeira owns 5% or more and sits on the Board of Directors of PrimusLabs.com. His company, Teixeira Farms, Inc., of Santa Maria, California, is also a client of PrimusLabs.com.

The Vice President of, PrimusLabs.com client, European Vegetable Specialties Farms, Inc., of Salinas, California, Tom Church, is a Director of PrimusLabs.com.

Byrd Produce, of Guadalupe, California, is also a client and two of PrimusLabs.com’s Directors have interest in this company.

Our Research Department has also uncovered that government laboratory results and third party laboratory results do not always agree. For example, on June 12, 1998 two pesticides, fenarimol and diazinon a nerve toxin, were being applied to an apple farm in Watsonville, California by blast sprayer. During the event, farm workers who were working by the apple trees on an adjacent strawberry fields, were exposed to these pesticides after they drifted through the trees, landing on the workers and the strawberry plants. Many went to the clinic following the incident complaining of nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulties, and blurred vision.

The county Agricultural commissioner sent samples to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation Laboratory in Fresno, a government regulated office. All of the samples that were sent showed evidence of diazinon and two had evidence of fenarimol.

The strawberry company hired PrimusLabs.com to do a sample analysis and according to the Agricultural Commissioners report they submitted samples "from plants adjacent to the apple orchard and from harvested strawberry trays. According to PrimusLabs.com test results, Diazinon and Fenarimol were not detected."

Safer growing practices, the government, and truly independent auditors can play an important role in protecting our food supply. Increased attention to food safety is something the UFW applauds. However, aims of such efforts must be to improve food safety, not just increase consumer confidence. As always, we believe one of the best ways to ensure a safe food supply is for the workers who pick and handle our produce to have a voice on the job.

If you have questions about the information contained here, please call Tricia Kishel in our Research Department at 831/761-7173.

Sincerely,

Irv Hershembaum

First Vice-President