G2020
Good Agricultural Practices for Food Safety of Fresh Produce
This checklist of good management practices will help reduce the potential of exposing fresh produce to pathogenic microbes.
Laurie Hodges, Extension Commercial Vegetable Specialist
- What are the guiding principles of food safety for fresh produce?
- Key Signatures of a Credible Food Safety Program
- Water Sources Are Safe
- Water for Irrigation and Drinking (Potable Water)
- Worker Health and Hygiene in the Field
- Field Microbial Safety
- Good Manure/Biosolids Management Practices in the Field
- Sanitation During Transportation from the Field
- Safe Water for Post-Harvest Handling of Produce and Personal Hygiene
- Worker Health and Hygiene in the Packing Area
- Sanitation in the Packing/Processing Facility
- Sanitation During Storage in the Barn/Packing House
- Temperature Control in the Barn/Packing House
- Customer Health and Hygiene for Pick-Your-Own Operations
- Sanitizer for hard surfaces that come in contact with fresh produce:
- Considerations in On-Farm Food Safety
- Additional Information
Key Signatures of a Credible Food Safety Program
The following is a condensed checklist of practices and conditions that reduce the potential for fresh produce to be exposed to pathogenic microbes. Review your farm practices and identify those areas where you can take actions that will increase the safety of the food you produce. Then, develop a written plan of appropriate good agricultural practices for your farm.
Water Sources Are Safe
Wells are protected from outside contamination. | |
Drinkable water supply and/or wells are tested at least once a year. | |
Records of all water tests are on file. |
Water for Irrigation and Drinking (Potable Water)
Water source(s) used for washing produce are located the distance required by local/state regulations [100 ft] from a manure storage facility, livestock area, pesticide storage area, and/or septic system drainage field. | |
Water used to clean and sanitize produce meets the EPA Drinking Water Standard. | |
Records of all water tests are on file. | |
Backflow devices and air gaps are installed at appropriate locations. |
Worker Health and Hygiene in the Field
A worker food safety training program is in place. | |
Workers and supervisors practice good personal hygiene. | |
Field workers have easy access to toilet and hand-washing facilities. | |
Supervisors are aware of the symptoms of foodborne illnesses. | |
Sick employees are reassigned to duties in which there is no direct contact with produce. |
Field Microbial Safety
Harvest storage containers are cleaned prior to use. | |
Clean containers are kept covered until used in the field. | |
Harvesting equipment is kept clean and in good working order. | |
Harvested produce does not come in contact with manure or biosolids, nonpotable water, workers with poor hygiene and/or dirty boots and clothing, or unclean packaging or storage containers. | |
Farm livestock, including poultry and pets, is restricted from fields or orchards where crops are being grown and harvested. |
Good Manure/Biosolids Management Practices in the Field
Storage and treatment facilities are located as far as practical and possible from growing and handling areas. | |
Storage and treatment facilities include physical barriers that prevent leakage, runoff, or wind spread. | |
There is a manure treatment plan in place. Use of manure in any form during the growing season should be in accordance with USDA and/or state or organic regulations. | |
Equipment that comes in contact with manure/biosolids in any form is cleaned thoroughly prior to use for harvest/transportation of fresh produce. | |
Biosolids are applied in accordance with local regulations/processor instructions.
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Sanitation During Transportation from the Field
Workers loading and transporting produce practice good personal hygiene. | |
Harvested produce is loaded and stored in such a way that physical damage is minimized, risk of contamination during transport is reduced, and air is allowed to circulate. | |
Vehicles used to transport fresh produce to market are well-maintained and cleaned. | |
Vehicles used to transport produce are not used to transport animals or animal products. |
Safe Water for Post-Harvest Handling of Produce and Personal Hygiene
Backflow devices and air gaps are installed at appropriate locations. | |
Restrooms and hand-washing sinks are supplied with potable water and single-use (disposable) paper towels. | |
Produce is washed and/or cooled with potable water. | |
Adding chlorine or peroxide to wash water is recommended. | |
Wash water is changed when dirty or after several hours, and is maintained at a temperature of no more than 10°F cooler than the produce to ensure that pathogenic and decay organisms are not sucked into the tissue. | |
Packing lines, conveyer belts, and any other food contact surfaces are washed, rinsed, and sanitized at the end of the day using potable water and an appropriate sanitizing solution. |
Worker Health and Hygiene in the Packing Area
Worker food-safety training is in place. | |
Workers practice good personal hygiene. | |
Sick employees and those with uncovered open wounds, sores, cuts, etc., are assigned to other duties in which there is no direct contact with fresh produce. | |
Adding chlorine or peroxide to wash water is recommended. | |
Restrooms are accessible, are cleaned regularly, and are well-supplied with water, soap, and paper towels. | |
Harvested produce does not come in contact with workers with poor hygiene and/or dirty hands, boots, or clothing (avoid cross-contamination). |
Sanitation in the Packing/Processing Facility
Approved sanitizers are used to sanitize food contact surfaces. | |
Area and equipment are cleaned and sanitized at least once per day. | |
Used and new packing containers are stored protected from contamination. | |
A pest-control system is in place. | |
Produce waste is removed daily. | |
Grounds are maintained in good condition. |
Sanitation During Storage in the Barn/Packing House
Storage areas are clean and free of contamination. | |
Storage areas are used exclusively for food crops and their containers. | |
Produce is stored at least 6 inches off the floor, depending on the nature of the crop. |
Temperature Control in the Barn/Packing House
Refrigerated storage is maintained at the correct temperature. | |
Refrigeration units are not loaded beyond capacity. | |
If ice is used for cooling, it is made from potable water. | |
Wash water is changed when dirty or after several hours, and is maintained at a temperature no more than 10 degrees cooler than the produce. |
Customer Health and Hygiene for Pick-Your-Own Operations
Toilet facilities and hand-washing stations are clean and regularly serviced and maintained in good working order: Soap, water, and single-use paper towels are available for customer use. | |
Produce picked by customers is not accepted for sale. | |
There is an opportunity for customers to clean hands after coming in contact with farm animals (petting zoo) prior to entering pick-your-own area. |
Considerations in On-Farm Food Safety
Fresh produce can become contaminated at any point along the farm-to-table food chain. The major source of microbial contamination of fresh produce is associated with human or animal feces.
Whenever water comes in contact with produce, its source and quality dictates the potential for contamination. Minimize the potential of microbial contamination from water used with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Worker hygiene and sanitation practices during production, harvesting, sorting, packing, and transport play a critical role in minimizing the potential for microbial contamination of fresh produce.
Follow all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations for agricultural practices. A product used in growing and handling food for human consumption may have different application rates, timings, preharvest intervals, or other restrictions than when the product is used for a commodity crop. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Accountability at all levels of the agricultural environment (farm, packing facility, distribution center, and transport operation) is important to a successful food-safety program. There must be qualified personnel and effective monitoring to ensure all elements of the program function correctly, and to help track produce back through the distribution channels to the producer.
Additional Information
Food Safety for Farmers Market Vendors
available online at www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1706.pdf or by contacting your local Extension office and requesting a copy of NebGuide G706.
Water Quality, Wells, Inspections, Testing
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water and Environmental Health (402) 471-2541
www.hhs.state.ne.us/puh/enh/brochures.htm
www.hhs.state.ne.us/enh/ProperWellConstruction.pdf
Details on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
www.gaps.cornell.edu/educationalmaterials.html
sfc.ucdavis.edu/pubs/articles/foodsafetybeginsonthefarm.pdf
www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ProduceandPlanProducts/ucm064574.htm
For an example of a GAP audit document, see
This publication has been peer reviewed.
Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Publications Web site for more publications.
Index: Foods & Nutrition
Safety
Issued June 2010