Food Safety
Farmers need to take steps to minimize pathogen contamination during production and harvest of their fresh produce. They should avoid side-dressing with manure, exclude animals near fields, promote proper worker hygiene in the field, test irrigation water quality, select irrigation methods that minimize crop wetting or allows for leaves to dry quickly, clean and sanitize harvest bins, promote cleanliness at U-Pick, and keep produce cool.
As consumers demand safer food, a growing number of retailers are requiring farmers to have independent, 3rd-party inspections of farms, certifying that their fruits and vegetables are being grown, harvested and packaged using Good Agricultural Practices.
FOOD SAFETY CATEGORIES
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023.
USDA's new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will help to offset costs for specialty crop producers to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements, which is part of USDA's broader effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small and medium producers and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture.
New USDA Grant Program - Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program helps specialty crop operations that paid eligible on-farm food safety program expenses in 2022 and 2023.
Please Consider Commenting on the Proposed Water Rule as part of FSMA
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
As many of you have likely seen, the FDA has proposed new regulations for the Agricultural Water Rule as part of the "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Relating to Agricultural Water". On Friday March 11th at 11am we invite you to attend a webinar co-hosted by NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets and NASDA where FDA will provide an overview of the proposed rule and answer any questions you might have. The zoom link information is below. There is no need to register to attend, simply click on the link when it's time.
Spray Safe, Spray Well: Lessons Learned
Ethan Grundberg, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Thanks to support from a Northeast Extension Risk Management Education (NERME) award, ENYCHP vegetable specialists were able to offer a free bilingual workshop series this winter focused on the fundamentals of pesticide safety and efficacy for beginning and organic farmers. For those of you who missed the live series, but would like to access the information that was shared from the guest presenters, all of the "Spray Safe, Spray Well" workshops are available on the ENYCHP YouTube channel.
Using Sous-Vide Machines for Hot Water Seed Treatment
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Hot water seed treatment is a task that often falls on the list of "should do's" in the winter and early spring, but sometimes falls by the wayside. Treating seeds in a hot water bath can help prevent serious bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases by killing pathogens harbored within the seed. The practice is recommended for both seed collected on the farm and purchased from commercial sources. However, it's sometimes difficult to know which seeds to invest in treating, and whether it's worth the time or cost. In the past, hot water seed treatment at home meant investing in rather costly laboratory hot water baths or taking a chance on less reliable stovetop methods. With the popularity and availability of "sous vide" machines, hot water seed treatment is easier, and more predictable than ever.
Start the Season off on the Right Foot with Food Safety Training for Farm Worker
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
The beginning of the growing season is one of the most hectic times of the year. It's a race between weather events to get fields prepared and crops in the ground. New employees are settling into their positions. Before things get too busy, it's important to provide food safety training to workers so that good habits are formed early in the season. For farms covered by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act's (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, there are specific requirements for worker training.
Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Food Manufacturing Facilities
Dan Donahue, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
DRAFT guidance sheet from the NY Department of Health and NYS Ag & Markets: Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Food Manufacturing Facilities or Food Retail Stores for COVID-19
EPA Worker Protection Standard Update
The updated Worker Protection Standard took effect on January 2, 2017. The NYS DEC has the right toconduct inspections to certify that growers are in compliance with regulations for agricultural pesticides including organics. Inspections include WPS, record keeping, and pesticide storage. Read more about what you need to know to comply with the changes.
FSMA Produce Safety Rule FAQ's
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
On behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, this article presents information on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and answers frequently-asked questions from producers.
Valuable Resources for Food Safety Information
Looking for more information about Food Safety? Follow the links below to find more valuable resources:
Food Safety Considerations and Design for Packing Sheds
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
Apple Grower Listening Session - USDA RMA Crop Insurance
June 28, 2023
Highland, NY
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is inviting interested parties to participate in a listening session to discuss the proposed changes to the apple crop insurance program. These proposed changes were published in a Proposed Rule with request for comments on December 16, 2021.
RMA invited public comments on this rule through April 15, 2022. RMA received comments to the Proposed Rule from approximately 200 interested parties. RMA is taking this opportunity to engage with interested parties to clarify the intent of the Proposed Rule before finalizing changes.
Small Fruit Opportunities for Small Farms
July 11, 2023
Willsboro, NY
$10 per farm
Pre register by Monday, July 10th at 9 am
Join us for a field afternoon at the Cornell Willsboro Research Farm and Juniper Hill Farm in Essex County to learn about growing small fruit crops in northern New York. We'll discuss considerations for site selection, varieties, pruning, integrated pest management, marketing, and more. In addition to strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, we'll cover novelty small fruits and nuts for specialty markets and hear from local producers who grow them.
1.75 DEC credits approved in categories 1A, 10, and 22
Rain date: This event will be held at the same time on Thursday, July 13th if thunderstorms and/or significant rain are predicted on the 11th