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The Opening Markets project. Audrey Kreske Family and Consumer Sciences North Carolina State University ackreske@ncsu.edu. *Funded by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association*. Jaquith Strawberry Farm. Rural Washington county, Oregon 35 acre strawberry producer – 4 rth generation
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The Opening Markets project Audrey Kreske Family and Consumer Sciences North Carolina State University ackreske@ncsu.edu *Funded by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association*
Jaquith Strawberry Farm • Rural Washington county, Oregon • 35 acre strawberry producer – 4rth generation • Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak • 15 sick • 4 hospitalized • 2 suffered kidney failure • 1 died
Jaquith Berries • Sold to nearly 20 buyers and to the public at the farm or roadside stands, farmers markets and retail outlets • Hand written lists of buyers – sometimes only first names • Berries changed hands often – Buyers to Farmers Markets to Consumers • Lab tests confirmed that deer feces found in fields was the source • Deer – natural reservoir for E. coli O157:H7 • Pickers should have noticed deer feces • Recalls of 4,800 flats announced by Ron Spada Farms of Portland and Growers Outlet
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/GAPGHPAuditVerificationProgramhttp://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/GAPGHPAuditVerificationProgram
The Process • USDA GAP certification • Good agricultural practices Parts 1 and 2 • Good handling practices Parts 3 and 4 • Grading (80% to pass) • Points 5, 10, 15, no partial points • N/A • $92/hour • Conducting the audit, travel time and preparatory time • Unannounced 2nd visit (separate cost) • In operation less than 30 days • Submit food safety manual for review
Opening Markets project • 12 farms across NC with <30 acres • One hour visits • Survey and onsite evaluation • Self diaries • Flip cam • Providing food safety manual templates and other documents • Determining economic impact
Participating farms • Growing method • Labor • Full/part-time • Seasons in operation • Commodity diversity • Livestock • Current markets • Direct to market, wholesale • Water source • Bathrooms • Liability insurance
Farm characteristics • Growing method • 7 out of 12 certified organic • House bathroom • 7 out of 12 • Dog on property • 5 out of 12 • Fencing • 3 out of 12 with no fencing • Irrigation water • 4 out of 12 well water only • Livestock on property • 5 out of 12 • Employees • 9 out of 12
Risk reduction on the farm • Water source (production and wash water) • Application method (microsprinkler/drip) • Testing/treatment • Animals • Domestic and wildlife • Livestock • Used for weed/pest control • Worker health and hygiene • Traffic patterns
Risk reduction on the farm • Manure/composting • Definitions (raw manure/green) • Composting method • Active/passive • Application time • 90/120 days • Crop rotation • Bathroom and hand washing • House bathroom
Risk reduction on the farm • Equipment/containers • Cleaning/sanitizing • Packaging • Reuse • Facilities/storage • Cleaning/sanitizing • Pest control • Traceability • Mock recalls • Quality • Sprouts
Barriers identified • Language of the document • Misinformation • Time • Documentation • Buyer expectations • Site specific risk recognition/audit requirements
Next steps GAP guidance document Economic impact of GAPs Summer 2012 certification
Conclusions Several routes of contamination…. No kill step when produce is consumed raw Outbreaks have shown that microorganisms survive and cause infection Good Agricultural Practices can be attained Ultimately reducing risks on the farm regardless of GAP implementation is important
Questions?? Thank YouAudrey Kreske, PhDackreske@ncsu.edu http://gapsmallfarmsnc.wordpress.com/ www.foodsafetyinfosheets.com www.barfblog.com *Funded by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association*