Good communication with your farm market customers is essential now more than ever to maintain their trust and support. Recommendations include telling, displaying and practicing science-based information about what you are doing to protect the shopping public visiting your farm or market. There is too much confusing misinformation available about how to protect yourselves and consumers so experts, such as Rutgers NJAES Food Safety Specialist Dr. Don Schaffner in this story, are working hard to provide credible resources to help you.
Just as we teach our Rutgers Master Gardener volunteers for answering home gardening questions, if you are searching the internet for information to answer customer questions, whether about the good hygiene and food safety practices you utilize in your facility to combat COVID-19, or for questions regarding your growing practices, look first for information on websites that end with a .edu (universities, colleges and extension), or .gov (federal/state/local government offices). In some cases, there are .org (organizations) websites that can provide useful information, but look for those whose content is backed by a scientific review board and/or has scientists providing the content.
Here is a short list of resources that will help you communicate science-based information to reassure your customers that you’re doing everything you can to provide safe and healthy food for them.
Signs and fact sheets on COVID-19 and Food
- COVID-19 Information for Growers, Food Workers & the Agriculture Industry
- Partnership for Food Safety Education/Fight Bac!
On the importance of eating fresh produce for healthy diets
- Health.gov
- Alliance for Food and Farming’s Safe Fruits and Veggies
