Produce Safety Guidance
Topics to choose from include (in alphabetical order):
- Agricultural water
- Background information
- Cleaning and Sanitizing
- Co-management
- Compost
- COVID-19 Guidance
- Decision Tree
- Farmers markets
- Flooding
- GAP guidance
- Home food preservation
- Introduction to produce safety
- Miscellaneous
- Other University Extension services
- Produce auctions
- Produce buyers guide
- Sanitation
- School and Community Gardens
- Soil Amendments
- Specific produce
- Storage
- Traceability
- Visitors and tours
- Water testing for producers
- Wells
- Wholesale
- Wildlife, rodents, pest control
- Worker training
Agricultural Water
- Total Coliform-Positive Well Water Test: Now What - North Central Region
- Approaches for Treating Ag Water for Postharvest Use - K-State Research & Extension
- Produce Safety And Agricultural Water Quality - K-State Research & Extension
- Agricultural Water Contamination and Food Safety - K-State Research & Extension
- Backflush Water Fact Sheet - K-State Research & Extension
- Use of Sanitizers in Postharvest Water - K-State Research & Extension
- Shock Chlorination for Private Water Systems - K-State Research & Extension
- Survey Agriculture Water in Kansas and Missouri - K-State Research & Extension
- Produce Sanitizer Guide - Missouri Department of Agriculture
- Managing Post-harvest Water - Kansas State University
- Basic Chemistry of Chlorination - Hydro Instruments
- Chlorine Bleach as a Sanitizer - Oklahoma State University
- Choosing and Using a Chlorine-Based Disinfectant - North Carolina State University
- Chlorine Use in Produce Packing Lines - University of Florida
- Guidance on Irrigation Water Quality - Michigan State University
- Postharvest Chlorination - University of California
- Using Sanitizers in Wash Water - video series from Penn State University
- Production Water Treatment Systems - New Mexico State University
- Managing a Dump Tank - New Mexico State University
- Understanding Water Test Results - Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Background Information
- Agrifood safety - Michigan State University
- Food Labeling for Kansas Food Producers and Processors - Kansas State University
Cleaning and Sanitizing
- Sanitizing and Cleaning Resources for your Business (SCRUB) - University of Vermont
- Cleaning and Sanitizing Farm Tools and Equipment – Washington State University
Co-Management
- Balancing Food Safety and Sustainability - University of California Cooperative Extension
Compost
- Thermophillic Composting - North Central Region Extension
- Composting - Cornell Waste Management Institute
COVID-19 Guidance
- CDC publishes 3 new considerations documents: farmers markets, learning gardens, and food pantries - United States Department of Agriculture
- COVID-19 Information for Ag Workers (September 2020) - Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health
- COVID-19 Worker Checklist - Food and Drug Administration, OSHA
- Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Farmers Markets - Kansas Department of Agriculture (select the yellow highlighted link at the top of the page)
- Food Industry Recommended Protocols When Employee/Customer Tests Positive for COVID-19 - United Fresh Produce Association
- Produce Safety and COVID-19 Update: KS and MO Produce Growers - Powerpoint presentation from April 3, 2020
- COVID-19 Update for Produce Growers - video, April 6, 2020
- Resources for Orchard growers - Oregon State University
- Guidance for Migrant Employees, Farm Workers and Housing - Oregon State University
- Just in Time: Farmers Market Safe Operations - National Environmental Health Association
- Guidelines for U-Pick Guests - K-State Research and Extension
- A guide for U-Pick producers/agritourism sites during the COVID-19 pandemic - Purdue University
- What to Do If You Have a COVID-19 Confirmed Positive Worker or Workers Who Have Been Exposed to a Confirmed Case of COVID-19 - Food and Drug Administration
Decision Tree
- On Farm Decision Tree - Cornell University
- Animal Management Tree - Cornell University
- Land Use Tree - Cornell University
- Postharvest Water Tree - Cornell University
- Production Water Tree - Cornell University
- Sanitation and Handling Tree - Cornell University
- Soil Amendments Tree - Cornell University
- Traceability Tree - Cornell University
- Transportation Tree - Cornell University
- Worker Training Tree - Cornell University
Farmers Markets
- Food Safety at Farmers Markets - Kansas State University
- Regulations and Best Practices - Kansas State University
- Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association
Flooding
- Handling Flooded Produce - Kansas State University and University of Missouri
GAP Guidance
- GAP Practices Webinar 1 of 2 - University of Minnesota
- GAP Practices Webinar 2 of 2 - University of Minnesota
- U-Pick Produce Best Practices - North Central Region Extension
- Introduction to Produce Safety - Kansas State University
- General Prevention Practices Checklist - Iowa State University
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Hazards (2008) - Food and Drug Administration
- Food Safety Begins on the Farm - Cornell University
- National Good Agricultural Practices - Cornell University
- Handling Flooded Produce FAQ - Kansas State University and University of Missouri
- Maintaining Postharvest Quality - University of Florida
Growing Growers presentations - April 20, 2020
- Introduction to Produce Safety and COVID-19 - Dr. Londa Nwadike
- Introduction to Produce Safety - Cal Jamerson
- Missouri Produce Safety - Ben Marshall
- Postharvest Handling - Tricia Jenkins
Home Food Preservation
- Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe - Kansas State University
Introduction to Produce Safety
- Produce Safety on the Farm - Kansas State University
Miscellaneous
- On-Farm Food Safety - University of Hawai'i
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
- RPC Containers Pricing Sheet
- Commercial Fruit & Vegetables - Kansas State University
Other University Extension Services
- Iowa State University
- University of Florida|IFAS
- Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety
- Western Center for Food Safety
- Penn State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Georgia
- University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Purdue University
Produce Auctions
- Food Safety at Produce Auctions - University of Missouri
Produce Buyers Guide
- Buyers Guide to Farms and Produce Safety - Kansas State University
Sanitation
- How to Build a Handwashing Station, option 1 - University of Minnesota
- How to Clean Inside Walk-in Cooler - Iowa State University
- Sanitary Design and Construction - University of Florida Extension
- Produce Sanitizer Guide - Missouri Department of Agriculture
School and Community Gardens
- Garden to Plate: Food Safety for School and Community Gardens (Fact Sheet) - Kansas State University
- Garden to Plate: Food Safety for School and Community Gardens (Leader's Guide) - Kansas State University
Soil Amendments
- Soil Amendments (Also in Spanish)-North Carolina State University Extension
- Produce Factors to Consider when Using Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (BSAAOs) - Produce Safety Alliance
- Documentation Requirements for Commercial Soil Amendment Suppliers - Produce Safety Alliance
Specific Produce
Greens
- Best practices for food safety when handling greens - Michigan State University Extension
Mushrooms
- Penn State Mushroom Gap Resources - Penn State University
Peppers and Eggplant
- Pepper and Eggplant Disease Guide - Seminis® Vegetable Seeds, Inc.
Potatoes and Rotation Crops
- GAP Self Audits and Documentation - University of Maine
Sprouts
- Sprouting Seeds at Home Safely - Kansas State University, University of Missouri
Tomatoes
- United Fresh Tomato Guidelines - United Fresh Produce Association
- Food Safety Guidelines for Tomato - United Fresh Produce Association
- TGAP and Best Management Practices - Florida Tomato Exchange
- Identifying and Controlling Postharvest Diseases - University of Florida
Storage
- Storage Guidelines - University of California-Davis
- Storage for Better Taste - University of California-Davis
- Storage of Fresh Produce - University of Georgia
Traceability
- Developing Traceability - Kansas State University
- Establishing a Lot through Sanitation Clean Breaks in Produce Packing Facilities - University of Florida Extension
- Trace-Back and Trace-Forward - University of Hawai'i
Visitors and Tours
- Service Animals - American Disabilities Act
- Service Animals Fact Sheet - University of Georgia
- U-Pick Produce Best Practices - North Central Region Extension
- Visitor and Tour Policies - University of Vermont
Water Testing for Producers
- KSRE Water Testing Information - Kansas State University
- KSRE Sample Submission Form - Kansas State University
- Water Testing Laboratories - Kansas State University
- Water Testing Labs Map - Missouri
- Water Testing Labs Map - Kansas
For Missouri growers, water sample kits can be obtained from most local public health departments in Missouri, as well as in some other locations throughout Missouri. Samples can be returned to most local public health departments in Missouri (on ice, within 24 hours of taking the sample). More information on collecting water samples and how to submit them in Missouri is available in the following documents:
- Missouri Water Testing Information- University of Missouri Extension
- Missouri Sample Submission Form - Missouri Department of Health laboratory
- Survey Agriculture Water in Kansas and Missouri - K-State Research & Extension
Production and Post Harvest Water Testing and Sampling (Also in Spanish) - North Carolina State University Extension
Water Testing Tutorial - Kansas State University | Sampling Creek Water - Kansas State University |
Wells
- Testing Private Water Systems - Kansas State University
- Private Well Maintenance and Protection - Kansas State University
- Private Wells - Safe Location and Construction - Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Well Terms - K-State Research and Extension Farm*A*Syst
Wholesale
- Wholesale Success - FamilyFarmed.org
Wildlife, Rodents and Pest Control
- Dealing with Wildlife - North Central Region Extension
- Extension Wildlife Management - Kansas State University
- Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide - Midwest Fruit Workers Group
- Vineyard Injury from Herbicide Drift - Kansas State University
- Pest Management Systems - University of Hawai'i
- Wildlife Damage Control for Organic Farmers - Montana State University Extension
- Domesticated Animals Factsheet - FSMA Produce Safety Rule, North Central Region
Vole Management - University of Missouri |
Worker Training
- Worker Training Handout (English) - Kansas State University
- Worker Training Handout (Spanish) - Kansas State University
- Worker Training Attendance Sheet - Kansas State University
- Basics of Worker Training - Michigan State University
- GAP Training Posters - University of Tennessee
- Worker Attendance Sheet - Kansas State University
- Wash Your Hands - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fruit and Vegetable Food Safety Training Video for Field Employees (English) - Produce Safety Alliance
Fruit and Vegetable Food Safety Training Video for Field Employees (Spanish) - Produce Safety Alliance
Funding for this website and the listed workshops are made possible in part by grant KS5895 from the FDA. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the FDA.
