A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Are small and medium scale produce farms inherent food safety risks?
Abstract On-farm food safety is treated as the final frontier in addressing source contamination problems of foodborne pathogens in fresh fruits and vegetables. It is a common assumption among food safety experts in the United States (U.S.) that small and medium scale growers pose inherently greater risk because they are viewed as least likely to implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) or attend continuing education programs. Farm scale is an aspect of food safety that is apparent to many yet overlooked by large-scale farmers, produce industry advocates, and regulators who have collectively created the current food safety system of standards and metrics. In this paper, responses to a survey of fresh produce growers about on-farm food safety are examined across farm scales using factor analysis and ANOVA. The findings demonstrate that, with few exceptions, U.S. Midwestern produce growers of all scales report similar levels of knowledge for pathogens, pre-harvest and post-harvest contamination sources, and management practices to prevent contamination. These findings challenge assumptions and generalizations and redirect the food safety conversation away from “knowledge deficit” models and toward the development of food safety standards, metrics, and certification processes that remove structural barriers to implementing on-farm food safety protocols for all scales of fresh produce production.
Highlights Good Agricultural Practice knowledge is not significantly different across produce growers at different farm scales. Perceptions across farm scales varied for the effectiveness and economic feasibility of a small number of practices. Smaller-scale produce growers perceived standards do not adapt to local farming conditions and their scale of farming. Scale-appropriate metrics are needed to help farmers meet new U.S. Food and Drug Administration on-farm food safety rules.
Are small and medium scale produce farms inherent food safety risks?
Abstract On-farm food safety is treated as the final frontier in addressing source contamination problems of foodborne pathogens in fresh fruits and vegetables. It is a common assumption among food safety experts in the United States (U.S.) that small and medium scale growers pose inherently greater risk because they are viewed as least likely to implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) or attend continuing education programs. Farm scale is an aspect of food safety that is apparent to many yet overlooked by large-scale farmers, produce industry advocates, and regulators who have collectively created the current food safety system of standards and metrics. In this paper, responses to a survey of fresh produce growers about on-farm food safety are examined across farm scales using factor analysis and ANOVA. The findings demonstrate that, with few exceptions, U.S. Midwestern produce growers of all scales report similar levels of knowledge for pathogens, pre-harvest and post-harvest contamination sources, and management practices to prevent contamination. These findings challenge assumptions and generalizations and redirect the food safety conversation away from “knowledge deficit” models and toward the development of food safety standards, metrics, and certification processes that remove structural barriers to implementing on-farm food safety protocols for all scales of fresh produce production.
Highlights Good Agricultural Practice knowledge is not significantly different across produce growers at different farm scales. Perceptions across farm scales varied for the effectiveness and economic feasibility of a small number of practices. Smaller-scale produce growers perceived standards do not adapt to local farming conditions and their scale of farming. Scale-appropriate metrics are needed to help farmers meet new U.S. Food and Drug Administration on-farm food safety rules.
Are small and medium scale produce farms inherent food safety risks?
Parker, Jason Shaw (author) / DeNiro, Julia (author) / Ivey, Melanie Lewis (author) / Doohan, Doug (author)
Journal of Rural Studies ; 44 ; 250-260
2016-02-12
11 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Are small and medium scale produce farms inherent food safety risks?
| Online Contents | 2016
Survey of food safety practices on small to medium-sized farms and in farmers markets
| Online Contents | 2013
Mechanism Model of Inherent Defects Risks for Buildings Quality Under Inherent Defects Insurance
| Springer Verlag | 2024
EXTRAS - Food Safety and Fresh Produce
Online Contents | 2004