HARPS Newsletter April 2026 Edition

 

Welcome to the April edition of the HARPS Newsletter.

 

In this edition, you will find:

 

 

Membership Finalised for the Inaugural Stewardship Panel for HARPS

Hort Innovation is pleased to announce that it has now finalised the membership of the inaugural Stewardship Panel for the Harmonised Australian Retail Produce Scheme (HARPS).

 

The Stewardship Panel provides objective governance and oversight to the HARPS program on behalf of the scheme owner (Hort Innovation) and was identified by an industry working party as a key need following an independent evaluation of the HARPS program.

 

The Stewardship Panel supports the work of the Operational Committee, Technical Committee and liaises closely with the HARPS Manager (One Direction ANZ).

 

Members of the Stewardship Panel are as follows:

 

Chair

  • Ben Hoodless – Managing Director, Element Ag Pty Ltd

Retailer Representatives (3 positions)

  • David Welfare – Executive Manager, Quality Assurance, ALDI Stores
  • Alexander Doyle – Strategic Sourcing & Sustainability Lead (Fruit & Vegetables) Woolworths Supermarkets
  • Karen Job – Head of Technical – Fresh Foods (Meat, Deli, Seafood, Produce, Bakery, Convenience, Dairy, Freezer), Coles Group

Industry Representatives (3 positions)

  • Joseph Ekman – Technical Director, Fresh Produce Group
  • Farzana Adams – Divisional Quality Manager – Citrus, Grapes, Avocados, Bananas, Costa
  • Andrew McKillop – National Quality Manager, The Avolution

 

Hort Innovation is aiming to convene the inaugural, in‑person meeting in May at the earliest. At this meeting, the Panel will ratify the Terms of Reference and commence the process of refreshing the existing committee structures.

Managing Fresh Produce After Flooding

Recent extreme weather events continue to impact fresh produce growing regions and supply chains. Flooding presents a significant food safety risk due to the potential contamination of produce, production areas, and infrastructure.

Under HARPS, floodwater is defined as:

“Water that washes over growing sites from an unintended overflow of a water source beyond its normal limits.”

Floodwater may introduce significant hazards, including:

  • Human and animal faecal pathogens (e.g. E.coli, Salmonella)
  • Chemical contamination (agricultural, industrial, or sewage sources)
  • Physical contaminants such as debris, sediment, and foreign material

HARPS Element 13.6 – Management of Crops After Flooding states:

“Produce that comes into contact with floodwater shall not be sold to Retail Customers.”

This requirement applies to:

  • Direct contact with floodwater (submersion or contact)
  • Indirect contact (including splash, runoff, or contaminated soil or equipment)

Where floodwater exposure is suspected or confirmed, affected produce must not enter the retail supply chain.

To support industry in managing these risks, the Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC) has compiled valuable resources on floods and food safety. These resources provide practical guidance on assessing and responding to contamination risks.

 

Access FPSC Flood and Food Safety Resources here

 

We encourage all stakeholders to review these materials and ensure compliance with HARPS requirements when dealing with flood-affected crops.

International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium (IFPSS) Returns to Sydney

 

Mark your calendar: The International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium 2026 will be held on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 July at the Novotel Sydney International Airport, with a chance to see food safety in action during the optional Field Trip on Monday 20 July.

 

This year, IFPSS presents not one, but two international keynote speakers! Join global experts Dr Elizabeth Bihn of the Produce Safety Alliance at Cornell University (US), and D’Arcie Rice from the British Leafy Salads Association (UK), plus a programme of Australian and New Zealand speakers for two days of practical guidance, case studies, innovation, emerging risk insights, an interactive workshop designed to support real-world application and much more!

 

Early Bird registrations are now open at www.ifpss.com.au. Use code IFPSS26EB to secure your discount. The FPSC welcomes speaker EOIs, email your submission to info@fpsc-anz.com by 10 April 2026. Sponsorship & exhibition packages are now available. Contact info@fpsc-anz.com for details.

 

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For more information about the International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium or the Fresh Produce Safety Centre, contact info@fpsc-anz.com

Want to have your say? Complete the HARPS Survey!

Since the release of the HARPS standard in 2016, the delivery, accuracy, and consistency of audits, as well as the cost of auditing, have been topics of significant discussion within the industry. To gain deeper insights into these concerns and improve the audit experience for growers and suppliers, the HARPS Retailer Committee has initiated post-audit surveys to collect valuable feedback.

After completing your audit, you will receive an email containing a survey link along with your HARPS Certificate and final audit report. We encourage you to use this link to share your feedback. Alternatively, you can provide your thoughts by clicking here.