UNITED STATES FRESHWATER PRAWN & SHRIMP GROWERS ASSOCIATION

655 NAPANEE ROAD (662) 390-3528
LELAND, MS 38756 FAX (662) 686-2894
aquaculture@tecinfo.com
February 20, 2003 www.freshwaterprawn.org

To: Freshwater Prawn & Shrimp Growers

From: Steve Fratesi, President

Recently, one of the big issues with prawn sales has been the necessity of a HACCP approved product. One state declared a frozen whole prawn to be a processed animal. This may be in contradiction to other opinions; however, we feel as an industry that we need an approved HACCP and SCP program that will be adaptable to all states and insure a quality product that meets all federal and state guidelines.

Mississippi State University has worked over the past several months in enlisting the FDA to work towards a program in conjunction with our next Annual Meeting. The HACCP program if taken by itself would require a three day course. The first two days, however, can be taken through the Cornell University web site: http://seafoodhaccp.cornell.edu . The final day will be presented by the FDA at our meeting. Done this way we can minimize the time growers will be away from their farms and businesses. David Marsh, a Kentucky grower, received his HACCP through Cornell at the one day workshop and stated that, "….it is well done and very instructional."

As government regulations increasingly become a part of our food industry, it is imperative that we as prawn and shrimp producers take the lead in compliance with these regulations and insure a quality product to the consumer. The consumer is knowledgeable and demanding a healthy product; therefore, let us take the lead and have an approved product from pond bank to consumer. This will only enhance our position in the seafood industry. If you consider that each of our growers represents the entire industry, it is the responsibility of each producer to insure a quality, uniform HACCP approved product.

Mississippi State University has put much into planning this meeting. The HACCP third day will be presented on Tuesday, March 25. The Association meeting will be held the morning of March 26, and a SCP (sanitation) course that afternoon. The SCP is available for those not acquiring the HACCP. We recommend taking both courses. MSU has also funded a pricing and marketing study and wishes to conduct a grower round table at this meeting to hear your ideas and target specific areas for research. The level of grower interest at this meeting will be vital in encouraging further work by our universities.

The meeting will be in Tunica, Mississippi which is about 15 minutes south of Memphis. Hotel arrangements have not been finalized but will be excellent and at a very reasonable price. Cost of the Cornell course is $50. The HACCP one day course is $55. The SCP course including manual is $55. Both HACCP and SCP are $100. Visit www.freshwaterprawn.org for current information or phone (662) 390-3528.

A minimum number of participants are required for the FDA to present the final day. Please indicate your interest as soon as possible. A few hours of internet time and courses will enable you as a grower to put to rest any problem with regulations and further open marketing opportunities.