Flood waters can carry microbial and chemical contaminants that can be harmful to humans. Food crops should be assessed to determine if they have been affected by flooding surface water sources including rivers, lakes, or streams. These waters are the highest risk for contaminants. The biggest question to ask is has the edible portion of the crop been exposed to these waters? There is no way to ensure that food crops that have come in contact with contaminated flood waters are safe to eat. Food crops that have been exposed to flood waters should be destroyed so they do not enter market channels. For more information and guidance on how to handle crops and fields that have been flooded visit the Produce Safety Alliance Food Safety for Flooded Farms resource.
Vegetable Crops Edition
Seasonal updates and alerts on insects, diseases, and weeds impacting vegetable crops. New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations updates between annual publication issues are included.
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NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
Vegetable IPM Update 09/01/21
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moths are still appearing in several locations, but numbers remain very low, and feeding has only occasionally been reported. ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.
The highest nightly blacklight trap catches of ECB for the week ending 09/01/21 are as follows:
| Asbury 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Califon 1 | Milford 1 | |
| Georgetown 1 | New Egypt 1 |
New Jersey Department of Agriculture Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Zone
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher announced the Department has added five counties to the spotted lanternfly quarantine zone. The counties new to the list are Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex, and Union. They join the previously announced quarantine counties of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset, and Warren.
Business entities that routinely travel in and out of the quarantine area are required to take, and pass, free training regarding the spotted lanternfly at https://bit.ly/3mDGv2d. Those businesses that interact exclusively in New Jersey’s quarantine zone must comply with the details outlined in the quarantine order. The quarantine also allows access to property for Department, USDA, or USDA contracted agents where the spotted lanternfly is suspected or confirmed so that the property can be evaluated and treated, if necessary.
The full press release from NJDA can be found at: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2021/approved/press210830.html
For additional information on spotted lanternfly, visit:
Rutgers NJAES Spotted Lanternfly Website https://njaes.rutgers.edu/spotted-lanternfly/
NJDA Spotted Lanternfly Business Resources Website: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/pests-diseases/spotted-lanternfly/business-resources/
Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – Pumpkin – 8/27/21
Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on pumpkin in Morris County, New Jersey. This is the first report of CDM on pumpkin in the state and region this growing season. CDM was confirmed on cucumber and cantaloupe earlier this summer. Growers should scout all cucurbit crops on a daily basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program. Remember, some CDM isolates fall into Clade II which predominately infect cucumber and cantaloupe, where Clade I isolates predominately infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash.
For more information on CDM, the clades, and CDM control please click here.
Vegetable IPM Update 08/25/21
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moths are still appearing in several locations, but numbers remain very low, and feeding has only occasionally been reported. ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.
The highest nightly blacklight trap catches of ECB for the week ending 08/25/21 are as follows:
| Bellemeade 1 | Farmingdale 1 | Hillsborough 1 |
| Centerton 1 | Flanders 1 | Old Bridge 1 |
| Downer 1 | Green Creek 1 | South Branch 1 |
Federally Required Produce Safety Alliance Training Online September 15 and 16, 2021
The Produce Safety Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act is now fully implemented. This means that one person from an operation who sells over $25,000 in fresh produce needs to attend a training course. There are some exemptions and modifications to the rule, but the best way to find out is to attend the course. We will have the next online training September 15 and 16 if 10 people register by September 1. The preregistration is required since training material must be sent to each participant prior to the training. Visit our website to register.
Produce Safety Training:
The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under the standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration’. This is the only training recognized by the FDA at this time!
Fruit and vegetables growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety should also attend this training.
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course?
This is approximately a seven-hour course to cover these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module and are included in the grower manual provided. There is time for questions and discussion, so participants are encouraged to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Benefits of Attending the Course
The course provides a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to the trainers at the end of the course.
Inspections:
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) began inspections for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for operations over $500,000. The other size operations will also be delayed by one year i.e. 2020 for small operations and 2021 for very small operations. The first inspections will be educational with the NJDA evaluating the farming operation. This will give the grower an opportunity to see what the NJDA considers area where improvement may be needed. After the inspection NJDA may do another inspection with possible enforcement in the future.
