Produce Safety

On-Farm Projects

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 the new water standards. Hands-on grower workshops to learn about water testing and also how to interpret water test results.

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 4 days. This study will provide real-world data on survival kinetics of generic E. coli when sprayed on different produce crops (with different surfaces, and grown differently). Results will be used to develop best practices for the industry.

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 corrugated cardboard lined packing tables).


Benefits: Identify surfaces at higher risk for cross-contamination (between melons and typical field-pack contact surfaces) during harvest of melons for producers to reduce the likelihood of occurrence. Hands-on trainings and a report to the industry with guidance to reduce potential cross contamination events during field-pack.

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, produceā€processors, policy makers, consumers, students, and academicians about antibiotic resistance facts and fictions and potential best management practices to preserve therapeutic antibiotic effectiveness and protect community health.

Results: Reducing Antibiotic Resistance from Farm to Fork


FAQ On Farm Food Safety