U.S. Pecan Industry’s Quality Assurance Program Open for Comment
American Pecan Council welcomes comments on the first-ever Quality Assurance Program for the U.S. pecan industry.
The public comment period for the voluntary Quality Assurance Program will run from Thursday, April 28, 2022, through Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The survey, including the submission instructions and QAP reference document, is available at this link.
The American Pecan Council developed the voluntary Quality Assurance Program in response to the U.S. pecan industry’s commitment to improving transparency across its supply chain by acknowledging and enhancing current industry practices and initiatives. The program includes the following key areas:
- Productivity & Economic Viability,
- Food Safety,
- Labor & Community, and
- Efficient Production & Resource Management.
The U.S. pecan industry engaged stakeholders to ensure the program is applicable and implementable throughout the industry while also meeting the needs and concerns of pecan buyers. Programmatic focus areas were identified through our industry-wide materiality assessment and ongoing industry feedback. The stakeholder groups included in our assessment or otherwise engaged throughout the Quality Assurance Program development process include:
- Pecan buyers, including CPG companies, retailers, and distributors
- Nonprofit organizations focused on sustainable agriculture
- Pecan industry organizations and community members
- Industry members, including improved and native pecan growers, accumulators, and shellers
“This program provides an opportunity for U.S. pecan growers and shellers to get credit for their current sustainable practices,” said Alex Ott, Executive Director of APC. “And it is also a tool to help the industry continue to achieve sustainable outcomes and to communicate the steps taken to bring a safe and quality product to their tables.”
“This program is a huge step for the U.S. pecan industry, supporting our industry’s diverse sustainable production and processing practices and giving U.S. pecan growers, accumulators, and shellers a unified voice. The QAP provides the industry an avenue to communicate to consumers the high quality of the U.S. pecan product,” said Emma Garner, Director of Industry Relations for APC.
In its final form, the voluntary Quality Assurance Program will be accompanied by resources and templates for industry members to facilitate program participation and onboarding. If you have any questions regarding the Program, please contact Emma Garner at egarner@americanpecan.com.
