In 2007, following a tragic outbreak of e. coli that sickened over 200 people, California farmers made an unprecedented commitment to protecting public health through the creation of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA). The program’s goal is to assure safe leafy greens and confidence in our food safety programs.
At the heart of LGMA is a set of food safety practices that are implemented on leafy greens farms throughout the state. Working collaboratively with university and industry scientists, food safety experts, government officials, farmers, shippers and processors, the LGMA created this unique and rigorous science-based food safety system that protects public health by reducing potential sources of contamination and establishes a culture of food safety on the farm.
LGMA members are companies that ship and sell California-grown lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens products. The California LGMA has a sister program in Arizona that is almost identical. Working with hundreds of farmers throughout California and Arizona, LGMA members produce approximately 90% of the leafy greens grown in the U.S. – that adds up to over 50 billion servings of leafy greens each year.
California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement
