Growers’ Resources

Page Index

Composting

Composting Poultry Mortalities
Guide from Georgia on how to properly compost dead chickens. Includes self-assessment on current composting practices, composting facts, how to apply to fields, glossary, references and contacts for more information.


Direct Markets

Safe Handling of Food at Open Markets
Self-assessment for growers to examine their food safety risks at open markets.


Field Sanitation

Growing Vegetables, Fruit and Produce
A self-assessment for growers to examine food safety risks on-farm, including water, wildlife and pests, compost and pesticide use, worker health and hygiene, postharvest operations and cleaning and sanitizing frequency.


Food Safety for Vegetable Production

Principles and Practices of Food Safety for Vegetable Production in Florida
Guidance for produce growers, including good information on specific foodborne pathogens, their source and method of transmission on the farm.

Recent Trends in Microbiological Safety of Fruits and Vegetables
Published research paper by University of Georgia, 2003.

Good Agricultural Practices: A Self-Audit for Growers and Handlers
Fifty-four page document from UC-Davis, a self-audit for growers.

National GAPs Program
Cornell University site for growers and educators.

University of California Good Agricultural Practices
UC-Davis food safety site.

USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service
Food safety information from USDA.

NCSU Food, Bioprocessing and Nutritional Science Department
Web site of NCSU food safety department (teaching), with degree information, certification info, on-line food safety classes and links to resources.

American Vegetable Grower Food Safety Articles
Magazine Web site with collection of articles on food safety from January-June 2007.

CDC Food Safety, Educational Resources
Links to consumer pages, random information.

FDA Center For Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
FDA’s page of resources, lots of information about what the FDA is doing to protect our food supply.

Iowa Extension Food Safety Project
Home page of Iowa Extension’s food safety program.

National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at MSU
Michigan State University Center for Food Safety.

NCDA&CS Food & Drug Protection
NCDA information including food safety. Link leads to fun cartoon area of information for consumers mostly. Also has link to recall info.

Managing Risk Liability

Liability Management for Fruit and Vegetable Producers
Presentation defines various types of liability, identifies sources of liability and points out insurance needs for fruit and vegetable producers.

E. Coli & Fresh Produce: Some Lessons Learned
Presentation provides information on the economic impact of E. coli in spinach and onions, the potential economic impact on N.C. crops and management tools to implement GAPs.

Manure and Municipal Biosolids

Production Practices as Risk Factors in Microbial Food Safety of Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce, Intro and Manure
In-depth introduction to minimizing risk of contamination in production. Includes specific information about manure use.

Best Management Practices for Horse Manure Composting on Small Farms
Nine-page document about safe ways to use horse manure as a soil amendment.

On-Farm Waste Management Fact Sheets
Searchable publication list for biosolids, best management practices for on-farm composting.

Biosolids Land Application of Sewage Sludge: Regulations and Guidelines
A publication on regulation and guidelines for biosolids as a soil amendment.

Biosolids Land Application of Sewage Sludge: Organic Contaminants
A publication on safe use of organic contaminants on land applications.

Biosolids Land Application of Sewage Sludge: Pathogens
A publication on the pathogens associated with biosolids as a soil amendment.


Pathogens

Basic Food Microbiology
North Carolina Cooperative Extension publication with introduction to microbes involved in food safety.

Bad Bug Book
FDA’s extremely complete resource on pathogenic microorganisms, their biology and connections to disease.

Outbreaks Associated with Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce: Incidence, Growth, and Survival of Pathogens in Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce
In-depth biological and practical information about pathogens associated with fresh and fresh-cut produce; includes information about the pathogens themselves, their means of contamination and control measures.

A Reference Guide for Foodborne Pathogens
Lists common pathogens associated with food and produce, symptoms of infection, sources of the pathogen and transmission methods associated with food production.


Sanitary Facilities

Hand Hygiene and Hand Sanitizers
Discusses the importance of handwashing, the most effective methods and the suitability of alcohol-based (no water) hand sanitizers.

Field Sanitation OSHA Requirements Field Sanitation – OSHA Standard 1928.110
Explanation of the OSHA requirements for field sanitary facilities provided to agricultural workers (where there are 11 or more working at one time).


Traceback

Sample Record Sheets
Sample recordkeeping sheets from Cornell University for worker training, field sanitation unit service, processing/packing water, water treatment, pest/rodent control, cooler temp, truck checklist, illness/injury reporting, first aid kit monitoring, manure applications, surface water testing, mock traceback and visitors. Part of a food safety plan.

Traceability
Article from Choices Magazine about the need for traceability in the produce industry, design and implementation of a possible nationwide system.

Model Recall Program for Fresh Produce Industry
A hypothetical, non-regulatory guidance document for recalls in the fresh produce industry.

Growers Insurance
An explanation of the rationale, forms and process of obtaining liability insurance for growers, specifically for direct marketing and agritourism. Includes links to a list of companies. Parent site: Managing the Liability and Risks of Farm Direct Marketing and Agritourism.

FDA Guide to Produce Farm Investigations
A guide for government officials investigating a produce farm that is implicated in an outbreak. Includes lots of legalese and technical terms but details exactly what FDA officials are instructed to do when inspecting a farm, 2006.

Food Recall Manual
Document (172 pages) for food producers, handlers and distributers detailing procedures of a food recall. Includes information on liability and prevention of contamination that would lead to a recall.


Training Resources

Video clips on GAPs
Short video clips explaining GAPs principles, to be used in worker training sessions.

Did you know? In the field, there is a need for hygiene too!
Photo booklet with dialogue between Latino farm workers about how they should maintain good hygiene while working and eating on the farm.

Good Worker Health and Hygiene Practices: Training Manual for Produce Handlers
Intended for use by growers in designing trainings for their employees in handling fresh produce. Includes suggestions for points to stress in training and what growers can do to help their employees stay safe and hygienic.

Good Worker Health and Hygiene Practices: Evaluation and Importance in GAPs and GMPs
Intended for growers to guide and evaluate their hygiene training of employees. Includes sample forms for use on the farm (or in a food safety plan) to keep track of worker trainings, worker toilet facility upkeep.


Transportation

Processing, Packaging and Transporting Fresh Produce Safely
A self-assessment for growers to examine food safety risks in their processing, packaging and transporting of fresh produce.


Water

Production Practices as Risk Factors in Microbial Food Safety of Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce: Water
In-depth introduction on how to minimize risk of contamination in production including specific information about water as a source of contamination.

Well Water Location and Condition on the Farm
Free software download to assess the risk of your well location and condition. For farmers and rural homeowners.

Water Testing Tips for Growers
Contains valuable information about the three different water tests available at most labs.

N.C. Water Testing Laboratories
List of laboratories and prices for water testing in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Application Form for N.C. Water Analysis Cost Share Program


Worker Health and Hygiene

Farm Instructional Posters
Cornell University, Department of Food Science National GAPs Network. This is a sample resource developed by Cornell. Posters to be printed and posted on the farm, instructing employees in both Spanish and English to use the field toilet, to put toilet paper in the toilet and to wash hands often.


Other

HACCP Principles
NC State University publication explaining HACCP and its basic principles.

Genetically Modified Foods
Information from FoodRisk.org about hazards and safety of genetically modified foods.

Product Liability and Microbial Foodborne Illness
USDA publication about implications of food safety for grower liability.