Thad
12-30-2010, 05:31 PM
https://www.capitalpress.com/cp-food-safety-122410
Fresno County focuses on small farms
Audit assesses grower effort to minimize risk of contamination
By CECILIA PARSONS
For the Capital Press
Anticipating new federal food safety rules in 2011, Fresno County is advising small-acreage growers how to prepare for new rules and programs.
The county has the largest concentration of Southeast Asian small-acreage farmers in the state, and many others farm fruit and vegetables on small farms, said University of California farm advisor Richard Molinar. Without evidence they are following food safety standards, their options for selling their produce could become limited, Molinar said.
Presently, they sell their vegetables and fruit to packinghouses and at farmers' markets.
Buyers have asked packinghouses for certification that food safety standards are met, said Joe Santellano, a supervisor for Sunnyside Packing in Selma.
"Our buyers are asking for certification, so it's really important that they take the initiative and begin this. That's why these meetings are being held," Santellano said.
The USDA's Good Agricultural Practices audit verification checklist assesses a grower's efforts to minimize the risk of contamination of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and other commodities by microbial pathogens. It is based on Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Answering the questions in the GAP checklist is the first step and establishes a grower's basic food safety plan. Growers may then choose a component of the food safety program for an on-site audit.
The audits are not mandated yet, Molinar stressed. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to hand down new food safety mandates next year, he said. Third-party audits may be part of that.
Even if audits are not required, he said, more buyers and consumers are demanding some assurance that growers are following food safety rules in their fields.
Steve Thomas, CDFA branch manager, said the process is not complicated. There are six components, but concentration at the meeting was on the farm review -- an audit of water quality, sewage disposal, presence of animals, fertilizer use and traceability. Other components cover harvesting, packinghouse operations, storage and food defense.
Farm review auditor visits are announced, the others are not.
The farm review is the most basic component and will give growers a head start if they move on to other audits.
The audit verification checklist is simple, said Thomas, but he warned growers that falsification of practices would result in failure to receive certification.
The two main reasons for a failing grade, Thomas said, are falsifications and hand-washing issues. Inspectors who witness a risk to human health during an audit will stop the process.
Auditors observe field conditions and if a grower has documented that he follows certain practices and auditors see that he has not, he will fail. Growers who say they use chemical fertilizer rather then raw manure will be asked for a receipt for the fertilizer. Compost users should have an analysis of the compost from the supplier.
Inspectors who are on hand for the farm review will be looking for pathogen pathways.
"Take steps to mitigate risks of contamination," inspector Ed Page said. "This is a risk-based review. We can't reduce pathogens, we want to reduce risk."
Thomas advised growers to be prepared with all documents when CDFA auditors make their announced visit to their fields.
"If you're prepared ahead of time it will keep costs low," Thomas said.
The average cost of an audit is between $300 and $400.
Online
For more information on food safety practices for the farm go to these sites:
2010 MSU GAP Manual for Fruit and Vegetables- www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort/gap.html (https://www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort/gap.html)
Farm Food Safety Plan- www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/gap (https://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/gap)
Good Agricultural Practices: A Self Audit for Growers and Handlers - https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5453/4362.pdf (https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5453/4362.pdf)
Fresno County focuses on small farms
Audit assesses grower effort to minimize risk of contamination
By CECILIA PARSONS
For the Capital Press
Anticipating new federal food safety rules in 2011, Fresno County is advising small-acreage growers how to prepare for new rules and programs.
The county has the largest concentration of Southeast Asian small-acreage farmers in the state, and many others farm fruit and vegetables on small farms, said University of California farm advisor Richard Molinar. Without evidence they are following food safety standards, their options for selling their produce could become limited, Molinar said.
Presently, they sell their vegetables and fruit to packinghouses and at farmers' markets.
Buyers have asked packinghouses for certification that food safety standards are met, said Joe Santellano, a supervisor for Sunnyside Packing in Selma.
"Our buyers are asking for certification, so it's really important that they take the initiative and begin this. That's why these meetings are being held," Santellano said.
The USDA's Good Agricultural Practices audit verification checklist assesses a grower's efforts to minimize the risk of contamination of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and other commodities by microbial pathogens. It is based on Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Answering the questions in the GAP checklist is the first step and establishes a grower's basic food safety plan. Growers may then choose a component of the food safety program for an on-site audit.
The audits are not mandated yet, Molinar stressed. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to hand down new food safety mandates next year, he said. Third-party audits may be part of that.
Even if audits are not required, he said, more buyers and consumers are demanding some assurance that growers are following food safety rules in their fields.
Steve Thomas, CDFA branch manager, said the process is not complicated. There are six components, but concentration at the meeting was on the farm review -- an audit of water quality, sewage disposal, presence of animals, fertilizer use and traceability. Other components cover harvesting, packinghouse operations, storage and food defense.
Farm review auditor visits are announced, the others are not.
The farm review is the most basic component and will give growers a head start if they move on to other audits.
The audit verification checklist is simple, said Thomas, but he warned growers that falsification of practices would result in failure to receive certification.
The two main reasons for a failing grade, Thomas said, are falsifications and hand-washing issues. Inspectors who witness a risk to human health during an audit will stop the process.
Auditors observe field conditions and if a grower has documented that he follows certain practices and auditors see that he has not, he will fail. Growers who say they use chemical fertilizer rather then raw manure will be asked for a receipt for the fertilizer. Compost users should have an analysis of the compost from the supplier.
Inspectors who are on hand for the farm review will be looking for pathogen pathways.
"Take steps to mitigate risks of contamination," inspector Ed Page said. "This is a risk-based review. We can't reduce pathogens, we want to reduce risk."
Thomas advised growers to be prepared with all documents when CDFA auditors make their announced visit to their fields.
"If you're prepared ahead of time it will keep costs low," Thomas said.
The average cost of an audit is between $300 and $400.
Online
For more information on food safety practices for the farm go to these sites:
2010 MSU GAP Manual for Fruit and Vegetables- www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort/gap.html (https://www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort/gap.html)
Farm Food Safety Plan- www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/gap (https://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/gap)
Good Agricultural Practices: A Self Audit for Growers and Handlers - https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5453/4362.pdf (https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5453/4362.pdf)