Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 147

1.2 acres (4,856.2 m2
), ranging from 0.1 to 2 acres (405 to
8,094 m2). Crops, other than strawberries, such as tomatoes,
squash, pumpkin, and apples, were grown on 95% of farms.
The plasticulture method was used by all farms for strawberry
production, with a greenhouse system used by three farms,
and matted row, high tunnel, and low tunnel methods used
by one farm each. The U-pick operations were common
on most (70%, n = 14) farms, and further processing of
strawberries was conducted on four farms.
PA associated with implementation of worker hygiene
practices
Nineteen (95%) farms had bathrooms with 18 (95%) of
the 19 located within 0.25 mi (0.40 km) of the working area.
All were adequate (one toilet per 20 workers) (72), having
visibly clean toilets and appropriate toiletry resources, such
as toilet paper (100%, n = 19), trash receptacles (89%, n =
17), and potable running water (84%, n = 16). Nearly half
(47%, n = 9) had workers use toilets in the grower's home
(in-house toilets) (Table 2).
Nearly all (95%; n = 19) of the 20 farms had HWS located
within 0.25 mi (0.40 km) of the working area. All were adequate
(one HWS per 20 workers) (72). On over half (58%,
n = 11) of the farms, HWS were attached to the bathroom.
All (100%, n = 19) had necessary tools to wash hands (e.g.,
potable running water and soap). The presence of single-use
paper towels or hand dryers were reported on 18 farms, and
all (100%) had single-use paper towels or hand dryers (Table
2). Additional clothing (e.g., gloves, face masks, and boots or
shoe covers) were provided to workers on 14 (70%) farms,
with gloves the most (93%, n = 13) commonly provided item
(Table 2). Only one farm (5%) had a body fluid spill kit.
PA associated with implementation of agricultural water
practices
All 20 (100%) strawberry farms used a drip irrigation
system, and 17 (89%) had backflow devices installed on water
distribution systems. Most farms used groundwater, followed
by municipal water and surface water as the preharvest water
source (Fig. 1). The majority (60%, n = 12) used only one
preharvest water source, while the remaining eight (40%) used
two water sources. Only a few treated groundwater or surface
water before irrigation (31%, n = 5), frost protection (33%, n
= 1), pesticide application (18%, n = 2), fertigation (25%, n
= 4), and handwashing (groundwater; 27%, n = 3) (Table 3).
The most common water treatment method was filtration (e.g.,
sand filters, screen filters) (Table 3). Additionally, half (50%, n
= 8) of the 16 farms that used groundwater or surface water did
not test the water for microbiological quality.
PA associated with implementation of animal control
practices
Of the 20 farms, nearly half (45%, n = 9) raised livestock;
none raised working animals. On six (67%) of these nine
farms, livestock enclosures were located at a safe distance
(>50 ft or 15.24 m) from production fields, while livestock
enclosures on the remaining three (33%) farms were not.
Distances between livestock enclosures and water sources
were reported on only six farms (67%), and the water sources
for all six (100%) were at a safe distance. Nearly all (90%,
n = 18) had one or more preventive measures for animal
intrusion, with fences being used on all 18 farms (100%)
(Table 2). Most farms had no indicators of domesticated
animals (95%, n = 18), such as pets, livestock, and working
animals, or wild animals (63%, n = 12). Indications of animal
intrusion were documented for a few farms, including foot
tracks (40%, n = 8), feces (15%, n = 3), and trampling (15%,
n = 3) (Table 2).
PA associated with implementation of BSAAO practices
Only 4 (20%) of 20 farms used BSAAO for strawberry
production. Of these four farms, three (75%) used a safe
BSAAO source (Table 2). All four (100%) obtained BSAAO
from a supplier, rather than producing it on farm. Three (75%)
farms had a separate vehicle for BSAAO transportation,
and two (50%) had a designated storage space for BSAAO
handling tools. BSAAO were stored on three (75%) farms
with established contamination preventive measures (Table
2). However, BSAAO storage areas were not located at a safe
distance (>250 ft or 76.2 m) from strawberry production fields
or water sources on two of four (50%) farms.
PA associated with implementation of harvesting
and packing practices
Less than half (40%, n = 8) of the 20 farms had harvest
carts for strawberry harvesting (Table 2). Of those eight
farms, harvest carts were cleaned at seven (88%) of the farms
and sanitized at two (25%) farms (Table 2). Of the 20 farms,
the most (95%, n = 19) common harvest containers were
buckets or pails, followed by boxes or bins (35%, n = 7), and
clamshells (25%, n = 5). The strawberry packing method was
reported on 17 farms. Of these 17 farms, most (76%, n = 13)
used the field packing method, and 6 (35%) used an on-farm
packing facility designated for strawberry packing.
PA associated with implementation of storage,
transportation, and miscellaneous attributes
Nine (45%) of 20 farms stored packed strawberries on
site. In addition, less than half (45%, n = 9) transported
packed strawberries, and only five (56%) of these nine
farms used a separate transport vehicle for produce
transportation. Food safety signage communicating RMP,
such as proper handwashing signage and visitor policy
posters, was posted on over half (55%, n = 11) of the 20
farms. Of these, the type of food safety signage was reported
on nine (82%) farms, and signage related to proper
handwashing, proper strawberry handling, and visitor
policies were observed on those nine farms.
March/April Food Protection Trends 147
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023

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