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
Relevant Events
Wholesale Market Readiness for Vegetable and Produce Farms
October 28, 2021
Remote Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course - Dec 2021
December 8 - December 9, 2021
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DRAFT guidance sheet from the NY Department of Health and NYS Ag & Markets: Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Food Manufacturing Facilities or Food Retail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.
2017 Winter Tree Fruit School Presentations
Anna Wallis, Tree Fruit and Grape Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Presentations given at the 2017 Eastern NY Commercial Tree Fruit Schools are available by clicking on the following links.
Valuable Resources for Food Safety Information
Looking for more information about Food Safety? Follow the links below to find more valuable resources:
Presentations - 2016 Winter Tree Fruit Schools
Sarah Elone, Field Technician
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Presentations given at the 2016 Commercial Tree Fruit Schools in Lake George (LG) and Kingston in the Hudson Valley (HV) are available by clicking on the following links.
Food Safety Considerations and Design for Packing Sheds
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
Presentations - 2015 Winter Tree Fruit Schools
Presentations given at the 2015 Commercial Tree Fruit Schools in Lake George (LG) and Kingston in the Hudson Valley (HV) are available by clicking on the following links.
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
Income Tax Planning for Farms that File a Schedule F
October 13, 2021 : Session 1: Tax Planning, Goals, and Foundations
Our first session will provide an overview of tax planning, the management of tax liability, and assessing your record keeping system.
October 20, 2021 : Session 2: Understanding the Schedule F, Depreciation, Profit/Loss Determinations
The second session will delve into everything Schedule F - depreciation and classifying revenues and expenses.
October 27, 2021 : Session 3: Income Tax Planning Strategies and Timelines
The final session will be led by a professional tax-preparer who will introduce tax planning strategies and the timeline for implementation with ample time for questions and discussion.
Wholesale Market Readiness for Vegetable and Produce Farms
October 28, 2021
Join Elizabeth Higgins and Extension Specialist with the Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and Michelle Proscia, Agriculture Educator with CCE Sullivan, for a lunchtime discussion about how farms can prepare for selling on the wholesale market and the benefits of scaling up. Topics include: labeling, recordkeeping, grading standardization of product, and post harvest handling.
This program is supported by the USDA, NIFA Award #: 2019-70020-30347
Design Your Succession Plan
November 2, 2021 : Starting Your Succession Plan
Farmers and next generation farmers will receive an opportunity to develop and design a succession plan with sessions led by experts across the field. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.
November 9, 2021 : Family Meetings and Conversations
Farmers and next generation farmers will receive an opportunity to develop and design a succession plan with sessions led by experts across the field. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.
November 16, 2021 : Determining What You Want
Farmers and next generation farmers will receive an opportunity to develop and design a succession plan with sessions led by experts across the field. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.
November 23, 2021 : The Next Generation & Your Legacy
Farmers and next generation farmers will receive an opportunity to develop and design a succession plan with sessions led by experts across the field. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.