Accessing Markets by Improving Virginia’s Fresh Produce Food Safety Culture
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 / certification in six market [...]
Enhancing the Safety and Quality of Cucumbers
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, and retail display to the [...]
A multistate effort to integrate and expand farmers’ market food safety materials across the southern region to increase food safety culture
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 created and extension specialists, extension [...]
Investigating and enhancing positive food safety culture in Farmers’ Markets
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 upon our current curriculum “Enhancing [...]
Development of Listeria control strategies for specialty crop processing facilities
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 will be integrated with existing [...]
Balancing Microbial Safety and Disease Management of Virginia Fresh Herbs
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 contamination in greenhouse grown fresh [...]