COVID-19 Updates and Resources for the New Zealand Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry

2021 will be a very active and eventful year for the global fresh produce industry and the United Nations are at the forefront of events that impact upon our industry. 

This is a topic that is not going to go away in a hurry, like it or not. In its own right, COVID-19 clearly represents a risk to human health, as well as a risk to our economy.

The Prime Minister has announced that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 until Sunday 30th August at 11:59pm, as decided at the Cabinet Meeting today

The Prime Minister announced on Wednesday 12 August that all businesses must display a NZ COVID Tracer QR code from 11:59am on Wednesday 19 August.

To follow is the most up-to-date information from the Ministry for Primary industries on the unlikely transmission of COVID-19 by food or food packaging.

This edition discusses activities and initiatives underway in the food safety and traceability arena over the last year. We examine the increasing collaboration across industry in food safety and a proposed New Zealand Fresh Produce Food Safety Framework Research Project.

Now we have moved into Alert Level 1 everyone can return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel, and you can get together with as many people as you want.

The New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre (NZFSSRC) have released an update of the potential for foodborne transmission of Covid-19 literature review.

Guide to Keeping Our People & Workplaces Well During ALERT LEVEL 3 and Essential Businesses to stay on restricted access during ALERT LEVEL 3

The government shared earlier today the work that has been done on updating the COVID-19 Alert Levels. You will find the updated levels here.
 

Fresh produce deemed for the Fruit and Vegetables in Schools (FIS) initiative is now being diverted to families in need during Covid-19 lockdown.

United Fresh is cooperating with wide range of food industries and organisations to support the New Zealand Food Safety & Science Research Centre literature review update Potential For Foodborne Transmission Of Covid-19.

The government website for COVID-19 has been updated with the correct information for consumers around the washing of fresh fruit and vegetables once they get them home. We had asked them to remove their advice of using soapy water last week so it is great to see this has happened.

New Zealanders can safely purchase fresh fruit and vegetables during COVID-19 and our country’s only pan-produce organisation that represents the entire value-chain, United Fresh, is reminding Kiwis to wash all produce as you normally would by rinsing it under the tap before consuming it.

MPI starting site visits today, Friday 27th March and United Fresh Physical Distancing poster shared.

MPI answers questions about 2m distancing rule, access to protection equipment, workers over 70, independant F&V shops and movement to & from work.

As New Zealand moves into National Alert Level 4 in response to COVID-19, the primary industries have been included on the list of essential services and fruit and vegetable stores to close.

COVID Alert Level 4 Description & United Fresh Guide to Keeping Our People & Workplaces Well – Continuity Planning for Businesses 

The government has now put New Zealand into Alert Level 3 (and indicated that this will go to Alert Level 4 in 48 hours).

As we all work together as a nation and industry to contain the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help protect our people, United Fresh will continue to provide updates for our industry to assist with business continuity.

The government has created a website that has everything you need to know about COVID-19 in one place.

Our colleagues at the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC) have shared their Literature Review on Foodborne Transmission of COVID-19 for the food industry.

We are all very concerned about the potential impact  COVID-19 could have on our businesses. The purpose of this update is to distil the key messages of what we need to consider.