On-Farm Food Safety Section

Keep up with the latest news on this dynamic topic that impacts growers on multiple levels. Developing a farm food safety plan is a good idea for all growers, and may be required as part of food safety audits if you sell to certain buyers.

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New Harmonized and Harmonized Plus+ standards go into effect May 1

This is the time of year when growers start to think about scheduling there USDA Harmonized and Harmonized Plus+ Audits.  There have been changes to both audits which take affect May 1.  Growers should download the latest versions from https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp/harmonized.  The Harmonized Audit is version 2 dated February 8, 2021 and the Harmonized Plus+ with the same date is version 3.  If anyone is still getting the GAP/GHP audits there are no changes.

There are changes to both the Harmonized and Harmonized Plus+.  New questions for the Harmonized Audit include:  G-8.2, G-10.7, G-12.1, G-12.2, P-3.1, P-8.2 and P-8.4.  Amended questions include: G-3.2, G-10.1, G-10.3, G-10.6, G-10.8, G-10.10, G-10.12, G-10.16 and G-10.19.  All of these apply to the Harmonized Plus+ in addition to four new questions:  F-8.2.c, P-6.5.a, P-3.1.a and P-9.4.a.  Two questions were also amended:  G2.2.2 and G-6.1.a.

Other than the new questions which must be reviewed and addressed in the food safety plan there are certain things audits will be stressing this year.  One is G-3.2 related to documentation and protection of those documents.  Documents must be maintained for two years and be available for review.  The one document which has not been assessed in the past is the portable toilet record.  This year they will be checking for it.  There are two ways growers can comply.  First make sure the starting and ending dates are on your contract for the portable toilets.  Also, take a picture of the log inside the toilet door at least at the end of the season.  It may make sense to do it mid-season and at the end.  Maintain those photos with your other documents.

The second is F-8.2 related to cleaning and sanitizing equipment, vehicles, tools and utensils and their storage.  There needs to be a schedule for those activities and records must include the date and method of cleaning and sanitizing.  One thing that gets overlooked at times are knives for field harvesting of vegetables and herbs.  These must be included, and the auditors will be looking for the logs this year.

Example templates are being updated on the Food Safety website https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/ that will include most of what would be needed for an audit.  These can be modified to fit any operation.

On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) Available to Produce Growers

As part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in coordination with Rutgers Cooperative Extension are again offering an OFRR to any operation that has taken the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Training.  The PSA training is required for fresh produce operations to comply with FSMA with sales over $25,000.  We have been doing OFRRs over the last two years (approximately 100) and want to continue this service during 2021.  So, what is the OFRR?  It is a walkthrough of the farm operation to assess where it may need for make changes to comply with FSMA prior to an inspection.  Generally, two individuals will be on the assessment team one from Extension and one from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.  These reviews take approximately 2 hours and is scheduled to fit into the grower’s time.  To schedule a review email Charlotte Muetter at charlotte.muetter@ag.nj.gov.  She will then contact the farm operation to schedule the review.

On-Farm Food Safety Talks for the Busy Grower

The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team has developed three video presentations.  Clip on  Three On The Go Webinars For the Busy Grower  to view the three videos listed below.

 Introduction to Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and USDA Audits.  Find out the differences between FSMA inspections and USDA audits. Who do they apply to and who does the inspection or audits?

Building Your One-Way Street: Backflow Prevention and Your Farm.  Learn what backflow is, how to evaluate your operations and how to prevent problems with backflow to protect your packed produce.

How to Use Best Practices for On-Farm Recordkeeping.  Tried and true strategies for organized record keeping that complies with FSMA and will prepare you for USDA audits.

What water test do you need and how often do you need to do it?

FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, third party audit standards, and general best practices all include the need for irrigation, harvest, cleaning, sanitation, handwashing, pesticide application, drinking and postharvest water testing.  Not all tests are the same, but all cost money, so make sure what your paying for meets your needs.  
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Here are the questions we commonly get from produce growers and answers that we hope you find helpful:

What water test do I need for a water source that is used only for irrigation of crops and/or pesticide applications?
– This water should be tested for generic E. coli, acceptable results give you a number answer of 126 CFU (colony forming units) or MPN (most probable number) or less. You do not want a presence/absence (P/A) test.  A P/A test would not be sufficient for a third-party audit requirement or the FSMA PSR.
-Most water testing labs on the NJ Water Testing Lab Map (link below) offer the EPA 1603 analysis, which satisfies both the FSMA PSR anticipated requirements and third-party audit requirements.
-Other acceptable analysis methods are described on the
Produce Safety Alliance Water Analysis Method Requirement fact sheet.
-Well water sources used for irrigation should be tested once a year.
-Surface water sources should be tested at least three times during their period of use, ideally when starting irrigation, mid-season, and close to harvest.  Surface water sources include irrigation ponds (spring fed, well fed, or other ponds), streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that are exposed to the surface.
-Municipal water sources used for irrigation should have a copy of the water testing record on file.  These testing records are often found online or are available upon request.  Made sure that generic E. coli is listed on the report.

What water test do I need for a water source that is used during the harvest process? Handwashing water? Cleaning and sanitizing use? Postharvest washing and cooling water? 
[Read more…]

Value-Added Producer Grants in New Jersey

Grant.gov applications are due by April 29, 2021 and
paper applications must be postmarked by May 4, 2021

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program administered by the USDA’s Rural Development Agency (RD), helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. [Read more…]

Covid Update From Secretary of Agriculture

March 5, 2021

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Dear Farm Owner/Operator:

On March 1, 2021 Governor Murphy announced that farmworkers will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 15, 2021.

We understand that the ag community is anxious to have everyone on their farm vaccinated as soon as possible, especially since some of you already have workers in the field.

Here is how the vaccination program will roll out over the next week:

  • The Department of Health (DOH) will send out a vaccine Q&A.
  • A brief survey will be included in that email that will help them with supply and delivery planning. Survey questions will include:
  • Business location
  • Contact person for scheduling vaccinations
  • Number of workers to be vaccinated
  • Logistic considerations

 

Once you receive the survey, please fill it out and return it as directed to the DOH.

A Health official will follow up with your contact person to schedule vaccinations either on your farm or at a standing location.

 

Sincerely,

Douglas H. Fisher

Secretary