5 Tips To Stay Out Of The Headlines

Growers live in fear of being the source of an outbreak, and recently, with traceability and awareness at an all-time-high, the dangers of one misstep are all too obvious. Last year alone E. coli sickened 15 people and killed one in Oregon. The culprit? Strawberries resold to roadside stands and farm markets. Other memorable incidents include the 2009 Norovirus outbreak in Finland, affecting more than 900 people who purchased frozen raspberries imported from Eastern Europe, and the 1998 Cyclospora parasites that sickened 1,000 people in Canada and the U.S. The common thread in all of these stories? Berries. A notoriously difficult crop to keep in tip-top shape, they require a lot of handling, and with the soft skin that makes them so tender, even the most innocent of bumps and bruises can become a vector for predatory bacteria.

In order to maintain a reputation free of negative press, Luke LaBorde, associate professor of food science at Penn State University, offers a few tips for keeping your nose clean.

1. Keep A Close Handle On Hygiene

LaBorde makes it clear that although much of the blame for outbreaks is put on animals, humans can be just as much at fault for lack of cleanliness. In order to keep sanitation at the optimal level, he encourages that employee training be mandatory, expectations be made clear and enforced, and reminder signs be placed in high-traffic locations.

In addition, restrooms at facilities should be well ventilated, cleaned daily, and not open directly to packing areas. Although all of these things may seem obvious, every bit counts when it comes to proper sanitation, and one can never be too careful.

2. Handle With Care

Unlike carrots, which can be pulled from the stem and might not be touched by a human hand, berries must each be held and handled. As mechanization for berry growing is not at the same level as some other crops, humans are huge factors in a berry’s growing process.

Apples, LaBorde says, can handle pretty aggressive washing, but berries are more delicate, so a lighter touch is key. Be careful not to overfill containers when collecting, thus crushing the fragile fruits. When cleaning, LaBorde has found that putting berries in a tank of water with a small amount of sanitizer can keep the damage done by water pressure and hand washing to a minimum.

3. Don’t Underestimate The Importance Of Water Quality

Although LaBorde recognizes that there are irrigation and water standards out there for reference, he encourages growers to take it upon themselves to go the extra mile in water cleanliness. Citing EPA’s notion that if irrigation water is clean enough for a person to swim in, it is clean enough to apply to produce, LaBorde says regulations are, “a bit fuzzy.” In addition, he says that testing for all of the necessary pathogens can get expensive, but testing for only a few things can let disease slip through the cracks.

In order to keep sanitation under control, LaBorde suggests removing as much soil as possible before placing produce in dump tanks or flumes, and changing water regularly to prevent buildup.

4. Always Use Safe Soil Supplements

Guidelines for soil supplements such as composted animal manure are in place, but LaBorde suggests that growers avoid the practice altogether in order to keep their produce free of contaminants. Pointing out that berries are generally eaten raw, LaBorde says that the use of manure, even treated, is just asking for trouble.

If a grower feels strongly about doing this, however, LaBorde says that the manure should be composted and turned regularly and effectively to assure that the suggested temperature is reached throughout the pile to kill dangerous bacteria. In addition, LaBorde emphasizes the necessity to always toe the line of the “120 day rule,” which states that growers cannot apply raw manure less than the stated number of days before harvest. Even if all of these rules are followed, however, LaBorde says that applying manure can be a “tricky practice.”

5. Keep Animals In The Wild And Out Of Fields

Deer have been truly dangerous when it comes to foodborne illnesses, explains LaBorde, citing the Oregon outbreak and other animal feces related incidents. In order to keep the fields and packinghouses free of wildlife, LaBorde suggests eliminating perching sites for birds, using traps and bait stations, and using repellents and noise cannons. Referring to folklore surrounding pest control in fields, LaBorde also mentions that a grower he knows puts a worn T-shirt in the field to ward animals off with human scent deterrents.

Should an outbreak be linked to your growing operation, LaBorde says that you should, “be open about it and work with government agencies to identify the cause.” In addition, he encourages growers to refer to land grant university Extension GAP information sources and State Departments of Agriculture for further information. “Apart from it being required that buyers use suppliers that are GAP certified, it’s the right thing to do to protect consumers,” he surmises.

A food science professor offers advice on how to keep foodborne illnesses out of your produce.