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The Produce Safety Team

December 21st, 2022

Michigan Growers: Meet your On-Farm Produce Safety Team!

The Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety program is a collection of service providers and resources that help Michigan farmers achieve their produce safety goals. Services from Produce Safety Technicians and MSU Extension Educators are always free, voluntary, and confidential.

FEATURED TEAM MEMBER

Cell: (616) 223-0027

Email: Morgan.Anderson@macd.org

Morgan Anderson is a Produce Safety Technician located at the Ottawa Conservation District. She works with produce farmers in Ottawa, Kent, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Clinton, Ionia, and Montcalm counties. She serves as a confidential, free, voluntary resource for anything related to produce safety and quality needs, and works with producers to interpret food safety standards and figure out what works best for their operation. Before working with the District, she worked with various organizations like the Campus Farm at the University of Michigan, Trout Unlimited, and the University Sustainable Food Program. Morgan has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in public policy. At school, she quickly found herself circling back to agriculture and its intersections with the environment, community, justice, and local food systems. She has a deep passion and love for learning, expanding her experiences, and engaging in conversations related to these topics. Morgan grew up and still lives on her family farm in the Kent City/Sparta area. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, photography, crafting, and spending time with loved ones.

Wildlife Monitoring Keeps Poop Off Food and Reduces Crop Loss Too

Patrick Gordon

Produce Safety Technician

Although wildlife on the farm cannot be controlled, there are steps you can take to ensure that wildlife has a minimal impact on a healthy and safe harvest. There are simple monitoring and deterrent techniques you can take to ensure you deliver the safest product to the consumer while minimizing crop damage.


The first simple monitoring technique is to watch for wildlife activity throughout the year. This activity does not have to be anything too formal, just being aware of where and when signs of wildlife intrusion occur on the farm is enough. This will give you the information needed to focus efforts in certain areas, at certain times of the day, or during specific times of the year.


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PODCAST EPISODE

The Upper Peninsuala Food Exchange (UPFE)


In this episode, Landen Tetil and Eli Hopp talk about the Upper Peninsula Food Exchange (UPFE), which is a food hub that supports local food systems in the Upper Peninsula. They specifically discuss what UPFE's food safety policies are for produce vendors and how Michigan Produce Safety Technicians can help farmers meet these expectations. 


Listen Here

FEATURED RESOURCE

Alison Buskirk

Digital Media Specialist | Michigan State University Extension

More resources to help you achieve your Produce Safety Goals

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training

Annual Produce Safety Supervisor Training

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