December 2020 - 18

Partnership develops Washington ag water website
By Karen Hunt
Washington State University
A growing number of fruit and
vegetable growers in the Columbia
Basin are working with researchers in
Washington State University (WSU)
Extension to find an easier way to track
and share data on water quality used for
crop irrigation.
" Measuring water quality is
important, because it lets growers
know the likelihood that the water
they are using might be contaminated
with a foodborne pathogen, " said
Faith Critzer, associate professor and
produce safety Extension specialist at
the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research
and Extension Center in Prosser,
Washington.
" By monitoring
water quality,
we can make
educated
decisions about
risks tied to that
source, " Critzer
said.
Producers
FAITH CRITZER
have historically
tested their water
several times throughout the growing
season to meet buyer requirements,
but increased testing requirements
may be put in place in the near future,
Producers have historically tested their water several times throughout the growing season to meet buyer requirements, but increased testing
requirements may be put in place in the near future, based on current requirements in the Food and Drug Administration's Produce Safety
Rule. Photos: Washington State University
based on current requirements in
the Food and Drug Administration's
Produce Safety Rule.
" The FDA has proposed to increase
testing frequency beyond what is
currently required for buyer audits, "
Critzer said. " This is an important
change, because it significantly
increases the cost for growers to
adhere to regulatory requirements. It is
important for us to determine if there
are economical ways we can share
data that is already being collected,
and provide better coverage for the
network as a whole. "
Critzer teaches standardized
curriculum that explains key regulatory
requirements of the FDA Produce
Safety Rule. During one of her classes,
growers aired their desire to have a
better way to share information on
irrigation water with others who are
also pulling from the same water
source, using a digital platform.
Water quality can change very
quickly. Through a collective testing
approach, the group as a whole can
benefit from access to more data to help
drive daily decisions.
After identifying the need for a
platform, Critzer connected with
Tiffany Reiss, program developer
in WSU's Innovation and Research
Engagement Office (IREO). IREO's
Extension, Engagement and Education
(E3) program is a collaboration between
IREO, WSU Extension, the College
of Arts and Sciences, and the Center
for Civic Engagement to help identify
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December 2020

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