February 4, 2025

Gleaning: Produce Safety Best Practices

Allowing gleaners on your farm is a wonderful way to provide nutritious high-quality food to food insecure communities. Gleaners can unknowingly contaminate produce, a thirteen minute training video has been developed for volunteer gleaners focusing on produce safety.  This video is available on the Rutgers NJAES YouTube site and soon on the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety site. A companion quiz was created for use to take after watching the video to test the knowledge of the gleaner on best practices.  A certificate of completion is displayed once the questions have been answered correctly.  We encourage farmers and gleaning organizations to stress the importance of produce safety during the gleaning process through education and support the health and hygiene practices of gleaners.  Best practices covered in the video are discussed in the Q&A below.

How should a farm support gleaner health and hygiene?
The gleaning organization should be aware of what you expect to supply gleaners while they are at your farm and know what they need to provide themselves.

  • Restrooms and hand washing stations should be available in the location that gleaning will take place
  • Restrooms and handwashing stations should be stocked and ready to use
  • First aid supplies should be provided at a central location

What information should you supply the gleaning organization?
Clear communication channels before and during the gleaning process are important!

  • The contact information of the person at the farm who is responsible in case there is an emergency, or if something goes wrong
  • Location/s at the farm where gleaners are permitted to harvest
  • Location of restrooms and handwashing stations
  • Crops that will be harvested and any needed tools or containers that the gleaning organization should provide
  • Information specific to animal activities in the field that could result in feces in the field or feeding damage from wildlife
  • Any areas of the farm that gleaners must not enter

What information should the gleaning organization communicate to gleaners before they arrive at a gleaning event?
While many gleaning events happen last minute, and gleaner participation may be tentative, it is important that this information is shared with them prior to the event to help facilitate good practices.

  • Signs and symptoms of illness that would prevent them from gleaning
  • Appropriate clothing to wear while gleaning
  • Hand jewelry should not be worn while gleaning
  • Tools and gloves from home should not be used, gleaners should only use items supplied by the farm or the gleaning organization
  • Snacks and non-water beverages are not permitted in the field
  • The training video should be viewed prior to all gleaning participation

What information should gleaners understand about identifying produce that is safe to glean?
Gleaners should understand what produce can and cannot be harvested.

  • Do not harvest produce that has fallen off of the plant and is on the ground
  • Do not harvest produce that was dropped on the ground during harvest or transportation
  • Do not harvest produce that is visibly contaminated with fecal matter
  • Do not harvest produce that may be contaminated with fecal matter

What information should the farmer share with the gleaning coordinator and gleaners once they have arrived at the farm?
Information should be provided to gleaners at the start of the event to remind them of your expectations while gleaning. Volunteers showing up late must be informed of this same information and should know to check in with the gleaning coordinator.

  • Restroom and handwashing station locations
  • Importance of washing hands including when to wash them
  • First aid kit and injury handling procedures
  • Harvesting procedures and how to use tools if needed
  • The process to avoid placing harvest containers on the ground, such as using a bottom bin to stack on top of with other bins, with the bottom bin not harvested into
  • Gleaners should not use tools or gloves from home

What behaviors should I expect to see gleaners doing while gleaning to ensure produce safety?

  • Not eating or drinking non-water beverages in the field
  • Not eating produce while they are gleaning
  • Washing hands at appropriate times:
    • Prior to the start of gleaning
    • After using the restroom
    • After eating, drinking, smoking
    • Anytime their hands may become contaminated
  • Awareness of and staying away from fecal material in the field
  • Communicating with the gleaning coordinator when:
    • Fecal material found in the field
    • An injury occurs
    • Someone begins to feel ill
    • Restroom or handwashing facility issues

For more information on produce safety, and details on why the above best practices were targeted for the harvesting of produce visit the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Essentials webpage.  To access the gleaner produce safety training visit the Rutgers NJAES YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grIGTneupd8 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
January 28, 2025 , , and

FSMA PRODUCE SAFETY RULE GROWER TRAINING

February 6, 2025 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Pre-Registration Required Deadline to register online is Monday February 3

 New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention at Harrah’s Waterfront, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ

 This training fulfills the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that at least one person from each farm needs to receive a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA.

Topics Include:

  • Introduction to Produce Safety
  • Worker Health, Hygiene & Training
  • Soil Amendments
  • Wildlife, Domesticated Animals & Land Use
  • Agricultural Water – Production Water
  • Agricultural Water – Postharvest Water
  • Postharvest Handling & Sanitation
  • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

Each attendee will receive a grower manual and be eligible for a certificate from the Association of Food & Drug Officials of the United States (AFDO). Note: Each participant must stay the entire training to be eligible for the certificate of training.

The cost is $50/per person,

Registration is separate from the registration fee to the Vegetable Growers Convention.

*Participants must be registered with VGANJ for the convention to attend this workshop.

For more information, email Jennifer at jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu

(Lunch is on your own)

Register at:  https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/fsmaac/

This training is partly funded through grants from the United States Department of Agriculture & the Food & Drug Administration.

Note:

Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training is available from the USDA Farm Service Agency. This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on the farm. For more information on this program please go to: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops for Program Years 2024 and 2025

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
January 17, 2025

Take the NJ Organic and Regenerative Farming Survey

The New Jersey State Organic and Regenerative Farming Board, in collaboration with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, is conducting an anonymous online survey to better understand organic and/or regenerative farmers production practices, current resources used, and needs. Fill Out the survey here: https://go.rutgers.edu/z23g6ei7

Who can take the survey: Farm business owners, prospective farmers, agricultural service providers, farm employees are invited to participate in this survey.

What will be done with the survey results: This information will be used to justify program creation, budget requests, and resources developed.

Survey Incentives: Respondents are eligible to receive a Jersey Fresh baseball cap, courtesy of the NJ Department of Ag. Show a screenshot confirmation of survey completion to a ORF board member to receive your cap. Caps will be given out in person at the NOFA-NJ conference on 1/25 and the NJ Ag Convention on Feb 4-6

Survey Link: https://go.rutgers.edu/z23g6ei7

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
October 17, 2024 , and

Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training

This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on their farms.

For 2024:

  • Applications are due between July 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025
  • Eligible expenses must be between June 26, 2024 and December 31, 2024

For 2025:

  • Application is due between January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026
  • Eligible expenses must be between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025

Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) by working directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office for details. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.

How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in years 2024 and 2025. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements.  FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:

Have obtained or renewed:

  • 2024 food safety certification issued between June 26, 2024, and December 31, 2024
  • 2025 food safety certification issued during calendar year 2025.
  • Be a specialty crop operation (growing fresh fruits and vegetables); and meet the definition of a small business or medium size business.
  • A small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of not more than $500,000.
  • A medium (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.
Category of Eligible Expenses Payment Amount of Eligible Costs
Developing a Food Safety Plan for First Time Certification ·                     75% (no maximum)
Maintaining or Updating a Food Safety Plan ·                     75% up to $675
Food Safety Certification ·                     75% up to $2,000
Certification Upload Fees ·                     75% up to $375
Microbiological Testing of Produce ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Microbiological Testing of Soil Amendments ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Microbiological Testing of Water ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Training Expenses ·                     100% up to $500

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts.  The FSCSC application and associated forms are available online at  farmers.gov/food-safety.

You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance.

For our current trainings please go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, training, vegetable, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
September 6, 2024

The Public and their Animals on Your Farm: What Can You and Can’t You Ask?

As we head into the fall agritourism season you may want to revisit the types of questions you can and can’t ask the public when they arrive at your farm with a service animals, pets, and comfort animals. For more suggestions on how to legally handle communications and guidance for customers with animals on your farm visit our previous PPA post on the topic.

What questions can you legally ask?
If you find yourself in a situation where would like to determine if the animal is a true service animal, you may ask just two questions.
1) Is the service animal required because of a disability?
2) What work or task has the service animal been trained to perform?

What questions are you legally prevented from asking?
1) You may not ask about the persons disability.
2) You may not ask for proof of the persons disability.
3) You may not ask for documentation or proof that the service animal is trained.
4) You may not ask for an animal health certificate.

The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety team developed a Q&A factsheet as well as signage that can be posted at the farm or presented to your customers.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety
August 27, 2024 , and

Produce Safety Classes this Fall

Hands-on Produce Safety Workshop: Wednesday, October 2nd from 10 am-2 pm EST. This hands-on produce safety class in Cream Ridge, NJ is for farm owners, farm employees, farm managers, and those thinking about starting a farm. The class is focused on the various actions that can be part of a strong produce safety plan whether you have one or are just getting started. These activities include building a DIY hand-washing station, assessing wildlife risks in the field and developing an action plan, interactive cleaning and sanitizing demonstrations, and more.

Online Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop:  Wednesday, October 16 from 6-8pm EDT. Work through the components of a food safety plan with our help from your home office! By the end of this class you will have a draft plan and a more robust food safety program for your farm. This is an interactive class so please be prepared to have your cameras on and microphones for discussions.

Who is this program for?

  • New and Beginning Growers
  • Growers who want to improve produce safety practices on their farms
  • Growers who want to work to develop a food safety culture on their farm
  • Growers who want to develop more robust food safety practices and worker training programs
  • Next-generation growers taking over a family farm
  • Anyone thinking about starting a farm
  • Anyone who may be getting an audit and does not have a food safety plan

For more details or to register for the classes go to https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/trainings/ or email Jenn Matthews at jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, vegetable, Vegetable Crops