Identification and Management of Critical Control Points in the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance from Animal Manure to Raw Produce
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, produce growers, veterinarians, produce‐processors, policy [...]
Investigating the Microbial Die-off of Generic E. coli On-farm
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 E. coli for up to [...]
Control of Cross-Contamination during Field-pack Handling of Melons
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 (e.g., stainless steel, polyethylene, or [...]
Development of Microbial Water Quality Profiles for the Eastern Shore of Virginia using the FSMA Produce Safety Rule
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 developed for growers to understand [...]
Building Capacity to Meet Virginia Produce Grower Needs for FSMA Water Testing Compliance
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 with growers in the source [...]
Strategies to Enhance Produce Safety on Virginia Farms for Implementation of FDA’s Produce Rule
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 Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety [...]