From the desk of

The Michigan Produce Safety Team

April 23rd, 2025

PRODUCE SPOTLIGHT:

Strawberries

Allissa Conley, Produce Safety Technician

Worker training is one of the best ways to help prevent foodborne illness. Read more on how strawberries have been linked to hepatitis A in the past, as well as some factors to consider in your Agricultural Water Assessment if you grow strawberries. 

Read more

Effective Worker Training

Breanna Hannula, Produce Safety Technician


Worker training is the most important part of produce safety on-farm, however it can be difficult to design an effective worker training program that engages both new and returning workers.


Read Article

Cleaning & Sanitizing Harvest Aids


In this episode, Michelle Danyluk from University of Florida shares what she learned from her research on cleaning and sanitizing leafy greens harvesters. She also offers practical advice for how growers can keep their equipment clean.


Listen to Episode

Recordkeeping Reminder:

Employee Training Records

Micah Hutchison, Produce Safety Technician

Employee Training Records are a required piece of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.


These records MUST:


     Include the names of all attendees

     Include the date of the training

     List the topics covered during the training(s)

     Be signed by a supervisor


Monitoring logs are a valuable tool for assessing the effectiveness of your training program. They help you identify what is working and where improvements are needed. When issues arise, corrective actions should be taken, and those actions may require additional training.


Don’t forget: any additional training must also be documented!

Worker Training Texting Service:

Free and easy supplemental training for farms

Michigan Growers! We need your input!


If your operation washes whole produce using hydrocoolers, flumes, dump tanks, or spray bars, please take less than 10 minutes to complete our confidential survey on postharvest water use.


Your feedback will help improve best practices in produce harvesting and packing operations. Any size operation can participate!


Questions?

Email fcritzer@uga.edu or Lstrawn@vt.edu



Thank you for your time and valuable insights!

If you manage multiple facilities, please select one for your responses!

Please Complete the Survey Now!

Interested in more? Here are some additional resources!


What else can you do to prepare for next season?


Complying with the Pre-Harvest Water Rule Short Course (With Certificate)

This online course is specifically designed to help you understand the new FSMA Produce Safety Pre-harvest Water Rule Requirements - including how to conduct an Agricultural Water Assessment


On-Farm Produce Safety Resource Library →

The Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety Team website has a variety of produce safety resources.

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