Common Findings from On-Farm Readiness Reviews
Emily Hale, Produce Safety Technician
Many fruit and vegetable growers are taking part in a program called an On-farm Readiness Review (OFRR). An OFRR is a review of your farm’s practices under the lens of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. MSU Extension and the Conservation Districts have done many OFRRs across the state and some common themes have emerged.
Common Areas Where Farms Excel:
Designates Food Safety Person: Many farms we visit have a designated food safety person who has produce safety decision making power and is able to talk with us at length about the farm’s produce safety practices. Being the designated food safety person is not always the only role this person plays on the farm, but this person is responsible for food safety on the farm and is able to work with us to implement produce safety best practices.
Clear Effort Toward Produce Safety: Often when going on OFRRs we find that there is clear effort by the farm toward food safety. Many farms have been eager to implement practices that are safer and are willing to comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
Ready with Questions: Many times, farms are ready to ask us questions they have and to show us every aspect of their farm. This helps us as reviewers give the best advice and prepare the farm for future inspections.
Commonly Seen Issues on Farms:
Not Properly Using Harvest Containers and Packaging: We often find that farms are using harvest containers or packaging materials that are intended for single use. Many times, they’re used over and over again, but are not able to be cleaned. Sometimes, these containers are even purchased second-hand and what they were used for prior to being on their farm cannot be determined.
Solution: Do not use containers that are purchased second-hand for produce that is subject to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Pay close attention when using cardboard as a multi-use container on the farm and have a clear idea of when that container is no longer fit for use.
Improper Cleaning and Sanitizing: Often there seems to be a misunderstanding of what makes something cleaned and sanitized. Many times, farms are skipping the cleaning and going right to sanitizing by simply spraying a surface with a product like bleach.
Solution: It is important that farms understand what surfaces are food contact surfaces and how can each food contact surface be cleaned and sanitized using the 4-step cleaning and sanitizing method. Find out more about the 4 steps of cleaning and sanitizing by following this link.
Not Using Wash Water Sanitizers Properly: We have found that many farms are not properly using and monitoring wash water sanitizers.
Solution: Use a wash water sanitizer that is labeled for food contact. Always use wash water sanitizers at the labeled rate. Monitor your sanitizer levels using test strips or other monitoring methods.
Not Monitoring for Wildlife/Pests in Fields: Farms are often good at implementing wildlife and pest deterrents in the field because of the concern for crop quality. However, one hundred percent exclusion is almost never possible, and we find that many farms forget to monitor their fields for animal intrusion and specifically they forget to look for poop.
Solution: Perform a pre-harvest assessment of your field looking for intrusion and poop from wildlife. Instruct your staff to monitor for poop during harvest.
How to Sign Up for an On-Farm Readiness Review:
Visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/agrifood_safety/on-farm-readiness-reviews to sign up and learn more about On-Farm Readiness Reviews.
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