Starting July 2024 we will start adding regular posts pertaining to all things produce safety! Events Announcements Partnership and Producer Spotlights Capacity Building Projects On-Farm Projects Greenhouse & Hightunnel Projects Packinghouse Projects Marketplace Projects
PI: Vallotton, Co-PIs: Archibald, Boyer, DuBois, & Vargo Goal: In this project, the Fresh Produce Food Safety Team, in partnership with Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Local Food Hub (LFH), conducted a market assessment for food procurement requirements and expectations related to food safety assurances [...]
PI: Strawn, Co-PI: Rideout Goal: The goal of the project is to determine the growth and survival of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes on Whole and Sliced Cucumbers held at ambient and refrigeration temperatures. Benefits: To provide science-based recommendations for reducing foodborne pathogen contamination of cucumbers during postharvest handling, transportation, [...]
PI: Boyer, Co-PI: Chase, Eifert, Chapman – NCSU, Harrison – UGA, Gibson, Shoulders – U of Ark., Sirsat – U of Houston Goal: The goal of the project is to equip farmers’ market vendors, managers, and consumers with both scientifically-based and practical behaviors. A Farmers’ Market Tool-kit will be [...]
PI: Boyer, Co-PI: Ponder, Chase, Archibald, Chapman - NCSU, Harrison -UGA Goal:The goal of this project is to assess microbial quality of fresh produce sold at farmers’ markets across VA and NC. Using the data collected we will incorporate new information into our training curriculum. Benefits: To further improve [...]
PI: Wiedmann/Cornell; Co-PI: Strawn Goal: The goal of this project is to (i) gain a better understanding of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. prevalence, persistence, and contamination patterns in packing houses and processing facilities and (ii) use this information to implement improved control strategies. Benefits: Data from this project [...]
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 [...]
