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So you want to purchase produce From A local farm. AUDREY KRESKE, PHD North Carolina State University. Discussion. If you had to set the parameters for a produce farmer to sell to a local school, what would they be? Kill step: None Susceptible population: Small Children - Teenagers
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So you want to purchase produceFrom A local farm AUDREY KRESKE, PHD North Carolina State University
Discussion • If you had to set the parameters for a produce farmer to sell to a local school, what would they be? • Kill step: None • Susceptible population: Small Children - Teenagers • Quality: Short shelf life • Health: Eating habits, obesity
NC FARM to SCHOOL Cooperative • Member of the Goodness grows in NC program • Free to join • http://www.gottobenc.com/become-a-member/membership-criteria/
NC FARM to SCHOOL Cooperative • Membership fee • $100 entry fee • Must be approved by the Cooperative Board of Directors • Elected by Cooperative members • Good Agricultural Practices certification • 3rd party • Liability insurance • $2 Million dollars
USDA GAP & GHP Audit Verification Checklist • *Not mandatory --- Buyer driven
Other Companies • Primus labs • http://www.primuslabs.com/Services/StandardGAP.aspxGlobalGAP • NSF agriculture services • http://www.nsf.org/business/nsf_agriculture/index.asp?program=NSFAgr • SCS global services • http://www.scsglobalservices.com/food-safety
Food Safety Manual • Written document that covers all aspects of growing and handling process, and identifies the potential sources of risks • Required to schedule and pass a GAP audit • Describes what steps and procedures are taken to reduce the risks of contamination by chemical, physical and microbial hazards
Food Safety Manual • http://ncfreshproducesafety.ncsu.edu/ • http://onfarmfoodsafety.org/ • http://gapsmallfarmsnc.wordpress.com/
Scoring • 5, 10 or 15 points • Partial points are not awarded • YES = full points and NO = zero points • Some questions may not be applicable to the operation • N/A points are deducted from the total points available • Reducing the number of points you must earn to pass • Total points = 180 (144 points) G-2, 10 points N/A • 180 points -10 points = 170 total points (136 points)
Scoring • Why do I need to see the actual audit? • The auditor must explain in writing any ‘NO’ or ‘N/A’ answers • ‘Doc’ column
Audit Cost • The charges include an administrative fee of $50 and the auditor’s time at $92/hour • Time on site conducting the audit, time to travel to and from your farm, and time spent preparing and completing paperwork • Distance traveled • Amount of time depends on sections to be completed • Cost shares are available for farms through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture or Carolina Farm Stewardship Association • First come first serve
Farm completing Part One and Two Admin fee $50 1 hour ~$92 3 hours ~$276 2.5 hours ~$230 3 hours ~$276 Total = $1,016 1 hour ~$92
Audit Section General Section *Mandatory
Worker Health & Hygiene • Hands can be a major source of human pathogens • Discuss hygiene policies and trainings with employees • Proper handwashing, proper hygiene • Economic impact
Worker Health & Hygiene • Illness/injury procedure • First aid procedures • Smoking and eating areas
Restroom & Handwashing • Restroom facilities should be as clean as possible • Stocked with single use towels, toilet paper, and hand soap • Supplies stocked on the property • Restroom use • Handwashing facilities Portable restrooms - records from the company regarding the frequency of servicing and cleaning
Audit Section Part One – Farm Review
Irrigation Water Sources • What is the source of irrigation water? How are crops irrigated? • Is it protected from contamination?
Irrigation Water Testing • Generic E. coli • Several tests – recommend Colilert method, quantitative • Not presence/absence • High test results? (EPA recreational water quality standards, 2003)
Wild and Domestic Animals • Keep animals out of the production field • Report tracks, crop destruction or feces • Positive deterrence • Fences, noise cannons, scarecrows, scare balloons or fish emulsion
Manure and composting • Pathogens of concern are Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 • Best management practices to reduce contamination • Increase the amount of time between application of manure and harvest of produce • Incorporation into soil • Proper and thorough composting • Application records • Storage of manure piles • Down hill from crop production areas • Covered with a shelter or tarp
Audit Section Part Two – Field Harvest
Sanitation • Cleaning is the process of removing food and other soils • Sanitizing is the process of reducing the number of microorganisms that are on a properly cleaned surface to a safe level • Sanitizing agents only work on properly cleaned and rinsed surfaces
DPI GAP Webinar Series • Tentative Dates • 11 am - 12 pm • June 27 – General Section • July 1 – Part One • July 11 – Part Two
Thank You Audrey Kreske, PhDackreske@ncsu.edu http://gapsmallfarmsnc.wordpress.com/ http://ncgoodfarmersmarketpractices.com/ http://growingsafergardens