Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 36

Produce Food Safety
generally recommended that growers use a 90-day interval
between manure application and harvest for above ground
crops and a 120-day interval for crops where the edible
portion is in contact with the soil. Manure is considered raw
(or untreated) unless it has been properly composted or has
undergone a validated process to reduce microbe levels.
Composting must be done in accordance with specifications
set forth in the National Organic Program or materials are
considered untreated. BSAAO that has been properly
composted and then protected from contamination is less
likely to contain human pathogens and may be applied to
fields at any time without application-to-harvest intervals.
When using products containing BSAAO, growers should
consult the manufacturer to determine if the product has been
properly treated.
Workers
Growers should monitor workers for signs of illness.
Individuals who are sick should not handle produce and
should be assigned to other tasks. Workers should wash
hands frequently, before beginning work and before returning
to work following any breaks. Growers should have policies
compelling workers to wear clean clothes at the beginning of
the workday and should prohibit the wearing of jewelry
(except for a simple wedding band) or sequined clothing
while working with, or around, produce. All workers should
receive sanitation and hygiene training.
Wildlife
Excessive wildlife activity in production areas has the
potential to introduce human pathogens into crops. Growers
should monitor fields for signs of wildlife activity.
Interventions should be used when wildlife populations rise
to levels that introduce excessive risk to crops. A number of
products are available for deterring wildlife from fields.
Netting and fencing may be used to exclude animals. Live
traps may be used to relocate animals (check with local and
state regulations prior to attempting). Reflective tape and
noise-making devices may be used to frighten wildlife.
Vertebrate pest are highly adaptable, and as a result, growers
will very likely need to employ several tactics in combination
to manage populations.
Produce Safety Rule and On Farm
Readiness Review
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety
Rule became law in January 2016. The rule codifies food
safety standards for vegetable growers. Depending on farm
size, growers will have varying amounts of time to implement
the rule on individual farms. Not all vegetable growers are
covered by the rule and some growers may have qualified
exemptions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has developed a flowchart to help growers determine whether
36
or not they are covered by the rule. The flowchart is available
at fda.gov/media/94332/download.
Informational videos dealing with FSMA Produce Rule
coverage and other very useful compliance information may
be accessed at the Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse at
foodsafetyclearinghouse.org.
Among other requirements, one person from each farm that is
covered by the Produce Safety Rule must receive an
approved training. Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) grower
trainings meet the Produce Safety Rule training requirement.
A directory of certified trainers is available on the PSA
website at
resources.producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/directory.
The On Farm Readiness Review is a tool developed by the
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
(NASDA) to help growers assess their level of compliance
with the Produce Safety Rule. The review is voluntary,
completely confidential, and is conducted by a team of
qualified individuals. Growers who wish to request an On
Farm Readiness Review should contact the lead agency for
Produce Safety Rule implementation in their respective
states. For example, Indiana growers should contact the
Indiana Department of Health at 317-476-0056 or
ProduceSafety@ISDH.in.gov to request a review.
Inspection of Covered Produce
Farms
Inspection of produce farms covered by the FSMA Produce
Safety Rule began in 2019. Farms with annual sales of over
$500,000 were initially inspected. During the 2020 growing
season, those farms with annual sales of $250,000 - $500,000
(small farms per FDA definition) will also be inspected.
Inspections for very small farms, those having annual sales of
$25,000 - $250,000 will begin in 2021. Inspections will vary
by state and may be conducted by state departments of
agriculture, state departments of health, or FDA. All
inspections will be conducted using a similar process and will
be based on FDA Form 4056, although states may customize
this form to some degree. A copy of FDA Form 4056 may be
viewed at fda.gov/media/124867/download. Regardless of the
agency conducting the inspection, growers will be contacted
in advance of the actual inspection in order to arrange a
mutually agreed upon inspection time.
GAPs Certifications and 3rd Party
Audits
A GAPs certification (also known as a 3rd party certification)
is an increasingly common condition of sale for many
produce buyers. GAPs certifications are not the same as
receiving a certificate for attending a GAPs training or proof
of completing a PSA Grower Training. GAPs certifications
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
https://www.fda.gov/media/94332/download https://foodsafetyclearinghouse.org/home https://resources.producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/directory/ https://www.fda.gov/media/124867/download
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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