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From the desk of
THE PRODUCE SAFETY TEAM
July 4th, 2021
Produce Safety Considerations for Maintenance Individuals
Jordan DeVries
Michigan Produce Safety Technician
Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that those workers who directly handle produce or work in sanitation aren’t the only ones who should receive annual food safety training and periodic refresher training. Farms and packing operations should start by reviewing health and hygiene policies with maintenance individuals, but really emphasize microbial cross-contamination and biofilm harborage sites with this training.
Produce Safety Resources for Volunteer Farm Labor
Help volunteers keep your produce safe! Set volunteers up for a successful and safe harvest by providing the following crucial resources.
Emily Hale
Michigan Produce Safety Technician
Podcast: Farm Worker and Volunteer Training
This episode features Micah Hutchison, a Produce Safety Technician with the Genesee Conservation District, and Ginny Farah, who works with the Edible Flint Educational Farm in Flint, Michigan. They provide some insight into training farm workers and volunteers on produce safety practices.
Volunteer Labor: Best Practices for Working with Gleaners
Jordan DeVries
Michigan Produce Safety Technician
Gleaning is becoming an ever-more popular activity on u-pick farms that have more crop to harvest than paying customers. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects farms and volunteers from liability if the donated food isn’t knowingly harmful, but there are still a few things to know as a host for volunteer gleaners to keep end consumers of donated produce safe. This article provides best practices to keep that produce safe and donation ready.
Sign-up for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review!
This free, voluntary, and confidential service is your next step towards FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance
Many growers of fresh produce want to know how ready they are with regards to being FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliant. In an effort to get people ready for a full implementation of FSMA, MSU Extension and the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team are providing FREE On-Farm Readiness Reviews to Michigan Produce Growers. 
Explore Your Farm's FSMA Status With MDARD.
If you want to connect with a produce safety inspector at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to learn more about how the FSMA Produce Safety Rule applies to your farm or your inspection status, please complete this MDARD Grower survey. A member of MDARD’s Produce Safety Team will contact you directly to verify your status based on the information you provide. Not only do you get to know your status, but MDARD will maintain this data to ensure that you receive relevant communication related to the Produce Safety Rule and Michigan’s Produce Safety Program. 
Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team
1715 Lansing Ave, Jackson, MI 49202 | MSU Extension MACD Produce Safety Technicians
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