Produce Bites

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule does not give specifics on establishing no-harvest buffer zones, and it can be difficult for growers to determine the size of a no-harvest buffer zone when they find poop in the field. Laurel Dunn, assistant professor and food safety extension specialist at the University of Georgia, and Shirley Micallef, professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture & Center for Food Safety and Security Systems at the University of Maryland, have conducted research on the dispersal of contamination due to rain splash on feces in produce fields. In this episode, Phil Tocco, extension educator for on-farm produce safety at Michigan State University Extension, talks with Laurel and Shirley to find out what they learned from their research, and what growers can take away from their findings. Additional Resources Full research article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1370495/full Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)

In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Landen Tetil discuss how to reduce food safety risks when it comes to growing mushrooms. They also talk through regulations that growers should be aware of when processing mushrooms. Additional Resources: Food-Safe Fungi: Produce Safety Resources for Mushroom Growers Video: "Power Washing Only Spreads the Evidence"

This episode features Faith Critzer, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia studying fresh produce in the realm of food safety, and Phil Tocco, On-Farm Produce Safety Educator at MSU Extension. They talk about all of the surfaces apples touch from the time they are picked off the tree until they get to the grocery store and how to keep these surfaces clean.

Happy New Year! In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Morgan Anderson and Allissa Conley talk about produce safety resolutions you can implement in the new year. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule requires that growers take a standardized food safety training recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sara Runkel, a Local Produce Safety Coordinator with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, and Steve Warshawer, Enterprise Development Manager with the La Montañita Food Co-op, are part of a team that is developing an equivalent training program to the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training that is accepted by the FDA. In this episode, Phil Tocco, Produce Safety Educator with Michigan State University Extension, talks with Sara and Steve to learn more about the details of this training, how it will compare to the PSA Training, and the key elements that make a produce safety training effective. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Produce Safety Technicians Landen Tetil and Micah Hutchison swap produce safety "horror stories" from the field and share solutions to these frightful food safety situations. Additional Resources: Hand Sanitizer vs. Hand Soap (Nutella video) Contact a Michigan Produce Safety Technician Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Converting a washing machine into a greens spinner can be a cost-effective and efficient option for farms to spin their dry leafy greens, but what are the food safety risks that come with it? Amanda Kinchla, Extension Professor of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts, was a part of a research team that studied the microbial contamination risks of washing machine greens spinners and how it compared to commercially available units. In this episode, Micah Hutchison, a Produce Safety Technician, sits down with Amanda to learn more about her research, discuss the findings, and talk through how to effectively clean and sanitize these machines. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Morgan Anderson and Allissa Conley sit down with Katie Brandt, leader of the Michigan State University Organic Farmer Training Program. They give helpful advice for beginning farmers, talk through some of the challenges beginning farmers may face when first getting started, and discuss where to begin when it comes to food safety on the farm. Additional Resources: Organic Farmer Training ProgramMichigan On-Farm Produce Safety websiteFunding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Produce Safety Technician Micah Hutchison interviews Clarence Price with Pingree Farms in Detroit. Clarence discusses the history of ag in Detroit, the food safety practices at Pingree Farms, and the benefits of urban farming and urban market gardening. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Participating in a Produce Safety Risk Assessment (PSRA) is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to selling safe produce. In this episode, you'll hear from Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Morgan Anderson, as well as Simon Yevzelman, leader of food safety and compliance at Planted Detroit, and Elizabeth Visser, manager at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. Simon and Elizabeth share their experiences participating in a PSRA and discuss how it has been helpful when it comes to marketing their farm. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This episode features Phil Tocco, MSU Extension Produce Safety Educator, and Morgan Anderson, Michigan Conservation District Produce Safety Technician. They discuss the importance of maintaining a regular cleaning and sanitizing schedule, and provide guidance on what to pay attention to when conducting a deep clean before the season starts. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Considering how you store and organize tools is essential for food safety on the farm. In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Morgan Anderson discuss best practices for tool storage in order to reduce cross contamination risks. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Phil Tocco, Emily Hollingsworth, and Morgan Anderson, members of the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety team, recently met up at the Northwest Orchard and Vineyard Show to discuss what growers need to know about the Agricultural Water Rule. In this episode, they provide an overview of the Ag Water Rule, and discuss what is currently known and unknown about the proposed rule. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Landen Tetil and Eli Hopp talk about the Upper Peninsula Food Exchange (UPFE), which is a food hub that supports local food systems in the Upper Peninsula. They specifically discuss what UPFE's food safety policies are for produce vendors and how Michigan Produce Safety Technicians can help farmers meet these expectations. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Produce Safety Technicians are a completely free resource to provide education and technical assistance at your convenience. Technicians can administer a Produce Safety Risk Assessment, help you develop a Farm Food Safety Plan, and describe the expectations and the process of a Produce Safety Inspection, all with complete confidentiality. In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Patrick Gordon interview Jeremiah Palmer with Rennhack Orchards about his experience working with the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

What are the food safety risks of using harvested rainwater? In this episode, Mariel Borgman and Micah Hutchison talk with Dr. Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein about her research on harvested rainwater quality and whether or not it's safe to use for irrigation. Additional Resources Rachel's article on harvested rainwater quality from a first flush system: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722040736?via%3Dihub WOW lab website: https://sph.umd.edu/research-impact/laboratories-projects-and-programs/water-quality-outreach-and-wellness-wow-laboratory Video showcasing harvested rainwater use in Baltimore City urban agriculture: https://youtu.be/r5rXSyu5J0c Webinar series for Baltimore City Agricultural Irrigation Water Quality Project: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ude6sqDMpGteyNMG57Xu3eSodOAsRNauW https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvc--opzIuHtAWgnjG3ClrqW5KqJ8agKfu https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpd-6grj8iHdM_g3PAz5YdaTTWyrgFVY_2 Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This month, Produce Safety Technicians Landen Tetil and Breanna Hannula discuss the cross contamination risks with shared equipment. This could be a tractor used in both livestock and produce areas, or a sink you use to wash both eggs and fresh produce. Listen up on this episode of Produce Bites! Additional Resources: Article: Tips On Shared-Use Equipment in The Wash-Pack Article: Risks of Cross Contamination Via Shared Equipment on Mixed-Use Farms Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Jordan DeVries, a Michigan Produce Safety Technician, sits down with Elizabeth Visser, farm manager at Blandford Nature Center. They discuss the produce safety efforts put into place at Blandford, and how Liz communicates the value of food safety to the customers and crew. Connect with Blandford Nature Center on their website or Instagram! Website: https://www.blandfordnaturecenter.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blandford.nature.center.farm/?hl=en Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Michigan Produce Safety Technicians Landen Tetil and Micah Hutchison discuss some of the requirements (the "musts") of the Produce Safety Rule, and some creative ways that growers can go about meeting these requirements. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This episode features Gianna Costa, Food Safety Quality and Assurance Manager for Square Roots indoor farm, and Phil Tocco, a statewide Produce Safety Educator with Michigan State University Extension. They talk about how Square Roots works as an indoor growing operation, how they mitigate food safety hazards, and how they build a culture of food safety. Square Roots website: https://www.squarerootsgrow.com/ SQR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarerootsgrow/?hl=en SQR Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarerootsgrow SQR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/square-roots-urban-growers/ Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.