Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 159
The response for knowledge questions was "agree," "disagree," or "don't know." For purposes of statistical assessment, "don't know" reflected a lack of knowledge and was
considered an incorrect answer. Subject mastery or proficiency, at 80% correct, has been used previously to evaluate
the knowledge base of diverse audiences (14, 15, 16, 26,
27, 28, 29). Knowledge items were grouped into 7 categories: general food safety, water safety, health and hygiene,
planting/growing/harvesting, post-harvest, animal and
pest control, and recall/traceback. There were 13 attitude
statements related to the importance of on-farm food safety,
the role of farmers in adopting practices to reduce microbial
risk in the products they sell, trust in the safety of the food
supply, and perceptions about food safety of locally grown
produce and small farms. These statements were rated on
a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 = strongly disagree to 5 =
strongly agree.
The protocol and questionnaire were approved by the
University of Rhode Island Institutional Subjects Review
Board. Prior to implementation, the survey items were
reviewed by twelve experts for content validity and clarity.
Experts were solicited from Land Grant Cooperative
Extension programs, academic institutions, and the project
advisory panel. The questionnaires were revised prior to
distribution based on their recommendations.
Data analysis
Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program
(IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Analysis
of descriptive statistics (e.g., frequencies, percents, means,
ranges, and standard deviations), one-way ANOVA followed
by the Scheffe's post hoc procedure, and t-tests were performed to determine statistical significance between means.
Chi-square tests were performed when the relationships between variables were examined for observed versus expected
frequencies. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha
measure of internal consistency. Significant findings were
reported at P < .05, as noted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Database results included responses on both partial, when
appropriate, and completed surveys. Table 1 shows key
background characteristics of small- (n = 254) and mediumsized (n = 47) grower respondents, with distribution of
respondents as follows: CT (21%), ME (9%), MA (16%),
NH (31%), RI (12%), and VT (9%). While VT and ME
project directors felt that electronic survey delivery was
best to reach the targeted audience, the lower numbers of
respondents in VT and ME could be due to electronic survey
administration versus mailed survey for the other states.
Bihn and others (4) also reported a higher return rate of
paper than of electronic survey questionnaires from fresh
produce growers. Of the respondents, 45% indicated they
use up to 5 acres for produce production and 25% and 29%
indicated they use 6-20 acres and > 20 acres, respectively.
While 15% indicated they were the only employee, 43%
indicated they had 2-4 employees and 24% indicated 5-10
employees. These data compared favorably to the U.S. Census
of Agriculture data, which indicate that the majority (almost
70%) of New England farms had 4 or fewer workers, with
28% of those claiming one worker, and almost 60% of New
England farms harvest less than 20 acres (40). Additionally,
the distribution of survey respondents compared favorably
to the U.S. Census data for the distribution of fruit and
vegetable farms in NE: 49% versus 53%, respectively, for the
northern NE states (NH, ME, VT) and 49% vs 48% from the
southern tier (CT, MA, RI) (40).
A diversity of fruits and vegetables many considered
high risk were grown by NE farmers (45). Fruits grown by
respondents included berries (83%), apples and/or pears
(52%), melons (33%) and stone fruit (33%) (data not
shown). The types of vegetables grown included fruit and
vegetables (90%), leafy greens (77%), root vegetables (73%),
brassica vegetables (70%), herbs (70%), legumes (68%),
bulbs (62%), tuber vegetables (54%), stalk vegetables (51%),
and sweet corn (48%) (data not shown). Smaller farms
tend to be more diversified with respect to production and
management strategies, while larger farms tend to be more
specialized (38).
As expected, the overwhelming majority of the respondents
would be considered either QE or not covered by the PSR.
Approximately half (51%) of the respondents indicated they
met the requirements for the PSR qualified exemption, 36%
indicated they had annual produce sales less than $25,000
and were not covered, and only 8% indicated they were
covered under the Produce Safety Rule (Table 1). While
some vegetables are not covered by the Produce Safety Rule
because they are rarely consumed raw (e.g., potatoes) (45),
farmer survey respondents were not asked to distinguish
between covered and uncovered produce that they grew.
Even though the vast majority of respondents would be
exempt or not covered (87%), when queried if they were
willing to invest in on-farm food safety-related practices,
46% of respondents still indicated that they were willing
to invest, and 50% indicated it would depend on the cost.
When asked if they were able to invest in such practices, the
majority (64%) pointed to costs as the determining factor. A
study in Oregon found similar results for small- and mediumsize farms regarding GAP certification; some growers were
making investments and operational changes irrespective of
requirements for certification (30).
Table 2 illustrates food safety training and on-farm
implementation of practices by the survey participants.
While the majority of respondents, regardless of farm size,
indicated they attended a GAP or equivalent food safety
training, 54% and 89% for small- and medium-sized farms,
respectively, statistical analysis indicated a significant
May/June Food Protection Trends
159
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018
Small- and Medium-Scale New England Produce Growers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Implementation of on-Farm Food Safety Practices
Prevalence and Conditions of Mechanical Tenderization and Enhancement of Beef at Independent and Minor Chain Meat Retailers in North Carolina
Serogroup Variation With Use of Immunomagnetic Separation to Detect and Isolate Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli O157 and the Big Six Non-O157
Florida Master Gardeners’ Knowledge and Adherence to Food Safety Guidelines
Beyond the Bio Randy Phebus
Pdg Highlight the Food Fraud
IAFP 2018 Special Section
General Interest Paper Meeting Report: Microbiomes in Food Safety, Food Quality, and Human Health
Iafp's Food Safety Innovation Award
Industry Products
Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Cover1
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Cover2
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 149
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 150
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 151
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 152
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 153
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 154
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 155
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Small- and Medium-Scale New England Produce Growers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Implementation of on-Farm Food Safety Practices
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 157
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 158
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 159
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 160
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 161
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 162
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 163
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 164
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 165
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 166
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 167
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 168
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 169
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 170
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Prevalence and Conditions of Mechanical Tenderization and Enhancement of Beef at Independent and Minor Chain Meat Retailers in North Carolina
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 172
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 173
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 174
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 175
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 176
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 177
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Serogroup Variation With Use of Immunomagnetic Separation to Detect and Isolate Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli O157 and the Big Six Non-O157
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 179
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 180
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 181
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 182
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 183
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 184
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 185
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Florida Master Gardeners’ Knowledge and Adherence to Food Safety Guidelines
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 187
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 188
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 189
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 190
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 191
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 192
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 193
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Beyond the Bio Randy Phebus
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 195
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 196
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Pdg Highlight the Food Fraud
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 198
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 199
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 200
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 201
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 202
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 203
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 204
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 205
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 206
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 207
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 208
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 209
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 210
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 211
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 212
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 213
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 214
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - IAFP 2018 Special Section
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 216
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 217
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 218
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 219
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 220
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 221
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 222
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 223
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 224
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 225
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - General Interest Paper Meeting Report: Microbiomes in Food Safety, Food Quality, and Human Health
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 227
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 228
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 229
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 230
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 231
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Iafp's Food Safety Innovation Award
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 233
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 234
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 235
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Industry Products
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 237
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 238
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 239
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 240
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - 241
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Cover3
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200807
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com