If you are an organic grower and use manure and compost, you might be interested in spending a few minutes to participate this survey conducted by University of California-Davis, The Organic Center and Organic Trade Association. The purpose of the survey is to characterize the use of manure and compost based soil amendments. Results from…Read more about Survey about the Use of Manure and Compost[Read More]
Food Safety
In November 2015 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final version of Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption, otherwise known as the Produce Rule, in the Federal Register. Sixty days later, in January 2016, the rule became law. The Produce Rule is one of several new…Read more about The Produce Rule is Here![Read More]
Recently the USDA announced the addition of a new third-party auditing service that will be available through the Ag Marketing Service (AMS). The service, called “GroupGAP”, will be available in the spring of 2016. The expansion of the service follows multi-year piloting and testing of the program. Under the GroupGAP program, independent farms may organize…Read more about USDA Announces the Addition of “GroupGap” to its Audit Services[Read More]
There are certain questions within our culture for which there are simply no good answers. For example, how many times have we heard the classic question, “If a tree falls in a woods and there’s no one to hear it, does it still make a sound?” One question I’ve been asked recently, for which the…Read more about Managing Manure – How Long is Long Enough?[Read More]
Amanda Deering started her Extension/Research appointment July 1, 2015 in a new role as a Clinical Assistant Professor in fresh produce food safety. Amanda grew up on a farm in a small farming community located in the “thumb” of Michigan and joined the Food Science department in the fall of 2013 as a Research Assistant…Read more about Dr. Amanda Deering Appointed to Fresh Produce Safety Extension Faculty Position[Read More]
With the record-setting rainfall we’ve seen over the past month, flooding of fields is very widespread (Figure 1). Fields that have experienced flooding present growers with difficult management choices. Flooding is defined (per FDA) as the “flowing or overflowing of a field with water outside a grower’s control.” Flooding is associated with streams, creeks, or…Read more about Food Safety Considerations for Flooded Vegetable Crops[Read More]
”Planning for Success: Food Safety Plan Writing” began Thursday June 4 and will continue on June 18 and July 1. The program is offered via WebEx, or by phone for audio only. Each program includes a presentation followed by time for discussion and questions and answers. “The programs are designed so that growers can participate over a lunch hour and…Read more about Planning for Success: Food Safety Plan Writing[Read More]
Purdue University and the Illiana Watermelon Association (IWA) are offering food safety audit cost-share programs to Indiana fruit and vegetable growers this year. Funds for the programs come from a grant from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture through the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. Through the Purdue program, Indiana fruit or vegetable growers…Read more about Food Safety Audit Cost-share and Consulting Program[Read More]
Scott Monroe, former Extension ANR Educator in Daviess County, began work in a new role on January 1 as Purdue Extension’s new Food Safety Educator. Scott grew up on a watermelon farm in southwest Indiana and has spent his entire career involved in different facets of the produce industry. He will be based at the…Read more about A Familiar Face in a New Role[Read More]
As we approach the 2015 growing season, produce food safety continues to be an important issue. This year, why not make it one of your goals to create a “culture” of food safety on your farm? Below are some things you can do to get started on that goal during the winter months:Review (or get…Read more about Produce Food Safety – Make it Cultural![Read More]