Food safety and environmental quality impose conflicting demands on Central Coast growers

T Central Coast of California supports unique biodiversity and some of the most productive agricultural lands in the United States. The Salinas Valley in Monterey County, often referred to as the “Salad Bowl of America,” produces the majority of the nation’s lettuce. Since the 1990s, food safety has become increasingly important, especially with respect to outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 associated with leafy greens: lettuce, escarole, endive, spring mix, spinach, cabbage, kale, arugula and chard (see www. caleafygreens.ca.gov). Simultaneously, growers on the Central Coast face increasing demands to protect the environment and have taken a proactive approach to improve environmental quality. An important aspect of these efforts is the adoption of conservation practices, which aim to improve and protect water quality, prevent soil erosion, reduce the use of agricultural chemicals and protect wildlife. However, some food safety requirements — or field-level interpretations of these requirements — conflict with management practices intended to improve water quality and enhance natural habitat. In response to grower concerns over contradictory guidelines and requirements for food safety and environmental protection, the Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Monterey County conducted a mail survey of 600 irrigatedrow-crop growers throughout the Central Coast. The purpose was to better understand the impacts of conflicting demands on growers, and to provide information to aid attempts to reconcile the goals of food safety and environmental protection. Protecting environmental quality