Produce Bites

In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Morgan Anderson and Allissa Conley sit down with Katie Brandt, leader of the Michigan State University Organic Farmer Training Program. They give helpful advice for beginning farmers, talk through some of the challenges beginning farmers may face when first getting started, and discuss where to begin when it comes to food safety on the farm. Additional Resources:Organic Farmer Training ProgramMichigan On-Farm Produce Safety websiteFunding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Produce Safety Technician Micah Hutchison interviews Clarence Price with Pingree Farms in Detroit. Clarence discusses the history of ag in Detroit, the food safety practices at Pingree Farms, and the benefits of urban farming and urban market gardening.Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Participating in a Produce Safety Risk Assessment (PSRA) is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to selling safe produce. In this episode, you'll hear from Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Morgan Anderson, as well as Simon Yevzelman, leader of food safety and compliance at Planted Detroit, and Elizabeth Visser, manager at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. Simon and Elizabeth share their experiences participating in a PSRA and discuss how it has been helpful when it comes to marketing their farm. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This episode features Phil Tocco, MSU Extension Produce Safety Educator, and Morgan Anderson, Michigan Conservation District Produce Safety Technician. They discuss the importance of maintaining a regular cleaning and sanitizing schedule, and provide guidance on what to pay attention to when conducting a deep clean before the season starts.Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Considering how you store and organize tools is essential for food safety on the farm. In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Morgan Anderson discuss best practices for tool storage in order to reduce cross contamination risks. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Phil Tocco, Emily Hollingsworth, and Morgan Anderson, members of the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety team, recently met up at the Northwest Orchard and Vineyard Show to discuss what growers need to know about the Agricultural Water Rule. In this episode, they provide an overview of the Ag Water Rule, and discuss what is currently known and unknown about the proposed rule. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

In this episode, Landen Tetil and Eli Hopp talk about the Upper Peninsula Food Exchange (UPFE), which is a food hub that supports local food systems in the Upper Peninsula. They specifically discuss what UPFE's food safety policies are for produce vendors and how Michigan Produce Safety Technicians can help farmers meet these expectations. Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Produce Safety Technicians are a completely free resource to provide education and technical assistance at your convenience. Technicians can administer a Produce Safety Risk Assessment, help you develop a Farm Food Safety Plan, and describe the expectations and the process of a Produce Safety Inspection, all with complete confidentiality. In this episode, Produce Safety Technicians Micah Hutchison and Patrick Gordon interview Jeremiah Palmer with Rennhack Orchards about his experience working with the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team.Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

What are the food safety risks of using harvested rainwater? In this episode, Mariel Borgman and Micah Hutchison  talk with Dr. Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein about her research on harvested rainwater quality and whether or not it's safe to use for irrigation. Additional ResourcesRachel's article on harvested rainwater quality from a first flush system: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722040736?via%3DihubWOW lab website: https://sph.umd.edu/research-impact/laboratories-projects-and-programs/water-quality-outreach-and-wellness-wow-laboratoryVideo showcasing harvested rainwater use in Baltimore City urban agriculture: https://youtu.be/r5rXSyu5J0cWebinar series for Baltimore City Agricultural Irrigation Water Quality Project:Water Quality and Food Safety, Nov 16, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ude6sqDMpGteyNMG57Xu3eSodOAsRNauW Water Treatments, Nov 29, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvc--opzIuHtAWgnjG3ClrqW5KqJ8agKfu Rainwater Harvesting at Baltimore Farms, Dec 8, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpd-6grj8iHdM_g3PAz5YdaTTWyrgFVY_2 Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This month, Produce Safety Technicians Landen Tetil and Breanna Hannula discuss the cross contamination risks with shared equipment. This could be a tractor used in both livestock and produce areas, or a sink you use to wash both eggs and fresh produce. Listen up on this episode of Produce Bites!Additional Resources:Article: Tips On Shared-Use Equipment in The Wash-PackArticle: Risks of Cross Contamination Via Shared Equipment on Mixed-Use Farms Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.