Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

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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May 19, 2020

NJMVC Further Extends Driver License, Registration, and Inspection Expiration Dates Due to COVID-19

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton, on Monday, May 18th, announced additional extensions to driver license, registration, and inspection expiration dates in the continuing efforts to mitigate COVID-19 and safeguard public health.

Effective immediately, the following documents, if expiring between March 13 and May 31, have been extended to July 31. Documents expiring June 30 are extended two months to August 31, and those expiring July 31 are extended to September 30.

• All Standard driver licenses (including permits) and standard non-driver IDs
• Privately owned and commercial vehicle registrations (including Farmer and Farm Use registrations)
• Vehicle inspections
• Purple Heart/Disabled Veteran placards
• Temporary tags

“Get it done online now, if you’re able,” Fulton suggests. “We do anticipate that volumes will spike once we reopen and when we reach the end of these extensions. Our job is to serve customers in the most efficient way possible and one way we can do that is by steering people to our expanded list of online services.”

On March 13, the NJMVC initially announced two-month extensions for licenses, registrations, and inspection stickers expiring in March, April, and May, timelines that have now been pushed back.

The NJMVC encourages customers to utilize online services, which have been expanded during the COVID-19 crisis. In most cases, customers can renew a license, replace a lost license, change an address, renew a registration, and complete other transactions through the NJMVC’s Online Services portal.

Customers also should check NJMVC.gov for the latest information and updates.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
May 15, 2020 and

Portable Toilets at Farm Markets and Tailgate Markets

Portable toiletsHaving a sufficient number of portable toilet facilities and properly cleaning and disinfecting them is even more important with COVID-19.  Your labor force may have increased, and your customer volume may be up.  You may need to rent additional toilets or have them serviced more frequently if the farm traffic warrants. A good portable toilet company will be prompt and thorough with their servicing and will leave documentation that each unit has been serviced.

Between visits from the servicing company, someone on your staff should be trained to clean and disinfect the units at least twice a day. Clean the hard surfaces using a detergent or soap and water followed by rinsing with potable water prior to disinfecting. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a list of disinfectants to use against COVID-19. It is imperative, once you have selected a product, to pay close attention to the contact time on the label which can vary from 1 to 10 minutes. This is the time that the surface MUST remain wet with the product for it to be effective. These disinfectants are for hard surfaces only- do not apply to produce or skin. Wear gloves since these products can irritate the skin.

A household bleach solution can be used to disinfect surfaces. Prepare the solution by mixing 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water. Bleach and disinfectants should be stored in non-clear containers and used within 30 days after opening.  Proper ventilation and gloves are necessary when mixing this disinfection solution. For more details on using bleach as a disinfectant please read our earlier Plant and Pest Advisory post.  An alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol can also be used to disinfect.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
May 8, 2020

Spread the Word: “Killer” Hornet NOT Found in the Northeastern U.S.

By, Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent/Professor, RCE of Gloucester Co. and William Bamka, Agricultural Agent/Associate Professor, RCE of Burlington Co.Asian Giant Hornet

Although media reports have triggered panic over the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), there are no reports this pest is present anywhere else in North America besides the Pacific Northwest. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resource personnel have received inquiries to identify hornets found by the public. In New Jersey, Rutgers Cooperative Extension county offices have not identified any submitted specimens to be the Asian Giant Hornet. The Asian giant hornet has only had confirmed sightings in Washington State and British Columbia, Canada.

“The species has not yet been detected this spring in Washington State or the British Columbia or anywhere else on the West Coast”, said Professor Dina M. Fonseca, director of the Center for Vector Biology in the Department Entomology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers–New Brunswick. “We do not know how the species arrived in the United States but it is important to not overreact.”

Washington State University’s information on the Asian giant hornet confirmed the first U.S. sighting of this hornet in the wild. The first two specimens were found in Nanaimo and White Rock, British Columbia, Canada in fall of 2019.
The hornets were reported to be attacking colonies of honeybees in Washington State. The Asian Giant Hornet is known to aggressively attack honeybees and can destroy entire honeybee colonies. Washington State University recently published an extensive fact sheet with identification and guidance for the public. According to the WSU Pest Alert, Asian Giant Hornets are not generally aggressive towards people, but may sting when threatened.

“The Asian giant hornet is unlikely to be present in New Jersey,” Fonseca said. “while citizens in the Pacific Northwest can help detect any emerging hornets this spring, which is critical for its control, the indiscriminate killing of bees, wasps or other hornet lookalikes, would be detrimental because of beneficial roles these insects provide as plant pollinators and predators of agricultural pests.”

An insect that looks similar and can be confused for the Asian giant hornet is the Cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus). They large solitary Asian Giant Hornetwasps found throughout the U.S. and burrow holes in the soil. Even with their large size, dangerous appearance and “dive-bombing” habit, adult Cicada killer wasps rarely come in contact with people and it is rare they will sting. The males of this species will make “dive-bombing” flight patterns, but do not have a stinger and an attack would not result in a sting. The female’s tubular egg-laying structure on the rear end can function as a very weak stinger. Her mild sting is similar to a slight pin scratch and is not considered by most people to be painful. Rutgers Cooperative Extension has more information on the Cicada Killer Wasp and other bees and wasps.

As more information comes out regarding the Asian giant hornet, it is best to pay attention to where this insect has been confirmed and how far it has spread. It is most likely that the Asian giant hornet would first spread and be reported in surrounding areas bordering Washington State and British Columbia, Canada before any reports would occur on the East Coast. Knowing this information may help to calm fears when seeing other hornets and wasps. As always, take precautions and avoid contact with stinging insects. For identification and recommendations contact your local county Rutgers Cooperative Extension office.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With:
May 8, 2020

Sourcing Local NJ Farm Products and Concerns of Food Insecurity

By Michelle Infante-Casella and Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agents-Rutgers Cooperative ExtensionVegetable basket

Where does food come from? Does the U.S. produce enough food to feed all Americans? Let’s stop right there for a minute and go back almost 5 decades.

In the 1970’s gasoline and other energy prices soared causing an American economic crisis. Our country was reliant on foreign oil sources. The US economy struggled, unemployment rates soared, and uncertainties prevailed. Yes, fuel is necessary for transporting people, moving products, for industrial processes and heating homes. However, Americans adapted and made changes to their habits to adjust to the shock of high-energy prices. These changes presented many challenges, but we persevered and over-time the U.S. tapped into domestic resources and the energy industry developed technologies to make us less dependent on foreign energy.

Let’s move ahead to today. This time it is not energy supply at risk, it is literally human lives that are being impacted by a worldwide pandemic. Once again uncertainties – this time food supply and safety are at the top of the list and causing anxiety for many households. Again, the consumer has adapted their preferences and habits in response to this new challenge. Today, consumers still desire fresh, healthy food, but are adapting their shopping habits to include, social distancing, shopping online and other methods to meet their dietary needs.

Going back to our original question, ‘Where does food come from?” To those in the agricultural industry the answer is obvious, but where our food comes from is often not considered by many Americans. The New Jersey Farm Bureau coined the slogan, “No Farmers, No Food”. But how can our farmers meet the changing demands of the consumer in response to the Coronavirus pandemic? Just like the American consumer, New Jersey farmers are changing the way they provide delicious, locally produced food, directly to the consumer.

Let’s face it – everyone enjoys visiting a local farm or farmers market. Not only can customers purchase some of the freshest fruits, vegetables and other products directly from the farmers who produced them, they can enjoy spending some time in the beautiful outdoors. Although most people are familiar with the traditional roadside farm stand, there are several unique products being sold by New Jersey’s innovative farmers. Everything from farm-fresh cheeses to locally raised meats like beef and pork, locally produced beverages, salsa and jellies, to farm-fresh poultry products are being produced right in your backyard. Many local farmers have incorporated Center for Disease Control guidelines including enhanced food safety, social distancing and other precautions to help ensure consumer safety. Some farmers are now offering a variety of ordering and payment options and even providing prepackaged delivery to your vehicle curb-side or to your home.

A CSA or community-supported agriculture is a great way to share in the experience of a local farmer. Much like the stock market, CSA members pay a fee in exchange for a “share” of a farmer’s crop. In exchange for their investment in the farming operation, members receive a percentage of the annual harvest while gaining the satisfaction of knowing where their food was produced and watching it come to fruition throughout the growing season. CSA members are rewarded with delicious yields and excellent returns on their investment in the form of farm-fresh products. Some innovative producers are providing virtual tours of their farms to give consumers the on-farm experience from the comfort of their homes. To learn more about CSAs check out the Rutgers Cooperative Extension fact sheet, Community Supported Agriculture: A Farmer’s Overview.

To help get the word out about New Jersey agricultural products some resources are available. The public can use the Find Jersey Fresh webpage or the NJ Farm Bureau webpage Local Farms – Local Food to find nearby farms with retail markets. Additionally, using your own social media pages and other outlets can attract customers. Farming is an essential industry and everyone depends on farmers to provide food. NO FARMERS NO FOOD.

 

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
May 6, 2020

Printable Signage to Inform Customers of COVID-19 Policies

Communicating your policies to customers is critical during this season, especially about your COVID-19 policies.  Printable signs have been developed for use on New Jersey farms.  Click on the images below for a direct link to the letter-size paper printable of each sign. Visit the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety COVID-19 website for more resources.

Cloth face coverings and gloves must be made available to employees by the business.  Employees must wear a cloth face covering and gloves but may supply their own if they prefer.  Customers must wear a cloth face covering while on the property of essential retail businesses.  If a customer cannot or is not willing to wear a face-covering you must consider alternative methods of selling your food to them.  An order can be taken over the phone, or in a parking lot.  Options include phone ahead orders or parking lot orders where staff select the items for the customer.

Face coverings required to shop inside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essential retail businesses must maintain social distancing in retail areas, and whenever possible in other areas.

Maintain social distancing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick your own operations to need to enforce face-covering use and social distancing in both indoor and outdoor areas of the farm.  Executive Order 122 requires the wearing of face coverings by staff and customers at essential retail businesses.  Prominent signage with your farm policies will help convey the message and ample posting on your social media sites.  You can create your own or use the one below.

Please follow our U-Pick Policy

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
May 1, 2020

Disinfection of Surfaces for Prevention of COVID-19 Spread – Use Caution

Cleaning supplies

The chemical concentrations for the disinfection of high touch surfaces in retail markets during the COVID-19 pandemic are higher than we normally recommend. This concentration is for the disinfection of hard non-porous surfaces and is not for use on produce. Care must be taken to ensure the safety of yourself and your workers when using this concentration. Typical concentrations of bleach for sanitizing surfaces is 150 PPM, the disinfection recommended 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water is 1000 PPM. This concentration can be caustic to skin, airways, and produce.  Take the following precautions:

1. Clean the surface with detergent removing all visible debris and with a clean water rinse.
2. Conduct mixing in a well-ventilated area and increase ventilation when possible in areas of use, wear rubber gloves to protect skin from contact with the bleach and bleach solution.
-If skin comes in contact with the bleach or bleach solution rinse with water, if irritation continues call a doctor.
-If the bleach or bleach solution comes into contact with the eyes rinse with water for 15 minutes, if irritation continues call a doctor.
5. Chlorine PPM measurement strips typically used in packing houses do not go up to 1000 PPM.
-1000 PPM test strips are available online through Granger, Amazon, and restaurant supply stores.
-Test strips must be for FREE chlorine, not total chlorine.
-Test strips have expiration dates, make sure yours are not expired.
6. Follow bleach label instructions for contact time requirement. This is the amount of time your surface needs to stay wet with the bleach solution to ensure efficacy and is usually 1 minute or more.
7. Use containers of bleach that have been opened no longer than 30 days to ensure proper concentration.
8. Mixed concentrations of bleach should be stored at cool temperatures and away from direct light, used within a few days and retested for PPM prior to each use to ensure correct concentration.
9. Do not mix bleach with any other cleanser!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,