PI: Strawn, Co-PI: Rideout Goal: The goal of this project was to determine the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes on fresh market herbs (including basil, cilantro, parsley, and dill) grown under commercial greenhouse practices. Benefits: Develop and disseminate best management practices for reducing the likelihood of Listeria monocytogenes [...]
PI: Pruden, Co-PIs: Archibald, Drape, Hession, Knowlton, Krometis, Ponder, Vallotton, Xia Goal: The overall goals of this project was to identify critical control points for the spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) from farm to fork and corresponding mitigation strategies. Benefits: Develop and disseminate new knowledge to livestock producers, [...]
PI: Strawn Goal: The goal of this project is to examine the microbial die-off of generic E. coli when sprayed on the harvestable portion of tomato, cucumber, and cantaloupe in the field. Benefits: The FSMA Produce Safety Rule will allow growers to apply a 0.5 log reduction of generic [...]
PI: Strawn, Co-PI: Danyluk/Florida and Chapman/NCSU Goal: The project aimed to provide scientific data on which to update/refine melon specific best practice guidance to reduce to likelihood of cross-contamination events in field-packing operations by quantifying the transfer of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes onto melons from each potential cross-contamination surface [...]
PI: Strawn Goal: The goal of this project was to develop microbial water quality profiles (geometric mean and statistical threshold value) for twenty different ponds on the ESV and educate growers about new FSMA agricultural water standards. Benefits: Baseline data for growers in the region and educational resources were [...]
PI: Vallotton; Co-PIs: Boyer, Strawn Goal: This project will build capacity to assist Virginia’s produce growers in meeting the agricultural production water compliance under the Produce Safety Rule. Benefits: Guidelines and resources will be developed to train trainers in each of the four VCE districts so they can work [...]
PI:Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS); Co-PIs: Strawn*, Boyer, Eifert, Vallotton, and Williams Goal: The main objectives of this project are to aid VDACS in building a farm inventory for Virginia; to support VDACS in developing educational content and resources for growers related to the Food Safety [...]
PI: Strawn; Co-PIs: Boyer, Eifert, Vallotton, and Williams Goal: The overall goal of this project was to build a collaborative infrastructure in the Southern US to support the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-compliant food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance as it relates to the produce industry. [...]
PI: Vallotton; Co-PIs: Boyer, Latimer, Straw, Strawn, and Williams Goal: This project focused on the development of educational produce safety resources in multiple formats (e.g., trainings, website, videos, factsheets) for growers, extension agents, and consumers. Benefits: Statewide agent and grower trainings. A comprehensive website aimed towards agents, growers, and [...]
A growing number of schools are gradually transitioning from pre-made foods to more fresh, scratch cooked options. Given the emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, there is an opportunity for local growers to gain greater access to public school systems. According to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), there are [...]
