FROM THE DESK OF
The Produce Safety Team

June 5th, 2022

Revisiting our Produce Safety Resolutions

Have you implemented any wildlife deterrents on your farm?

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When Poop Flies...How Risky are Birds to Food Safety?

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In this episode, you'll hear from Olivia Smith, a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University, and Phil Tocco, an MSU Extension Educator. They discuss the factors that influence the relative risk of birds to food safety.


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How On-farm hazards can make people sick and what we can do to minimize them

Jordan DeVries

Michigan Produce Safety Technician

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Microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses, like norovirus, salmonella, and toxigenic E. coli, are commonly transmitted from hand-to-mouth. This route of transmission occurs when infected workers contaminate fresh produce or food contact surfaces by touching them after touching their mouths or using toilets without adequate handwashing.


The best practice to mitigate this risk is to have an illness policy for employees, including a robust monitoring and reporting system to keep workers experiencing acute foodborne illnesses from coming to work until their health condition no longer persists. 


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Identify Poop and Keep it Off Food!

Different types of pathogens can be found in various types poop. It is important to take measures to keep poop away from (and off) of food!  

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Sign Up Today for a Free and Confidential On-Farm Readiness Review!

The On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) Program was developed to support growers in their efforts to comply with the laws of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.  An OFRR will allow a fresh produce grower to walk around their own farm with a team of trained professionals to review their general production practices in reference to produce safety. This walk-through will help a grower gauge how ready they are for an inspection and also give them ideas about how to make inexpensive changes (if necessary) to meet the new food safety requirements. The On-Farm Readiness Review Program is a voluntary and confidential service, and best of all, it is at no cost to growers!

Worker Training Texting Service

This FREE weekly texting service can help you with your worker training!


Sign up for this texting service to receive a produce safety text once a week, straight to your phone. Each text will contain a short sentence, infographic, or video to reinforce important produce safety concepts without spending a lot of extra time or money. Signing up is FREE! Text "training" to (888) 531-2157, or text "capacitar" to receive texts in Spanish.


Learn More or Sign Up

Online Produce Safety 

Supervisor Training

You only need 4 hours over the span of three weeks to complete this self-paced course!

Michigan State University Extension offers a course for farm supervisors as they navigate the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This course provides supervisors with information about the Produce Safety Rule and how to use relevant resources to support their farm's compliance with the rule.

Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team
1715 Lansing Ave, Jackson, MI 49202 | MSU Extension MACD Produce Safety Technicians
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