Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association |
Agricultural water is a key focus due to its potential to introduce harmful microorganisms to produce. It includes water used during growing, harvesting, and postharvest activities, with surface and groundwater posing varying contamination risks. Regular agricultural water testing is required to monitor microbial quality, particularly for generic E. coli as an indicator of contamination. Corrective actions, such as treating water or identifying and addressing contamination sources, are necessary when water does not meet safety standards. Proper water management practices help reduce risks and ensure produce safety throughout production and handling.
Postharvest handling is a critical training focus to ensure the produce remains safe after harvest. Proper management of postharvest water is essential, including monitoring and maintaining sanitizer levels to prevent cross-contamination during washing or cooling. Clean and sanitize all equipment, tools, and surfaces regularly to reduce the risk of contamination. Store produce in clean, temperature-controlled environments to prevent spoilage and microbial growth. By following these practices, farmers can maintain the safety and quality of produce from the field to the market.
Policies | Guides | Training
| << Cleaning and sanitizing equipment, tools and buildings are an important step in preventing foodborne illness outbreaks. Watch this webinar to learn what cleaning and sanitizing steps farms can take, with a focus on food contact surfaces, which have the highest potential for coming into contact with produce and being a source of contamination. << Indu Upadhyaya, PhD, and Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH present an update on the produce safety rule on agricultural water. Additional resources: Agricultural Water Proposed Rule
<< Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water... Does This Look Risky to You? Dr. Channah Rock (from the University of Arizona) will cover assessing and evaluating risks associated with the use of production water, and how we manage those risks on the farm including water treatment. << Dr. Keith. Schneider (from the University of Florida) covers wash water quality, sanitizer use, methods of/pros and cons of monitoring, and some recommendations for post-harvest water management that attendees can apply to their operations. << This video describes and shows how to reduce the risk of contaminated produce with food safety practices including handwashing, animal prevention, animal droppings removal, documentation, using clean packing equipment, worker training, and more. For more information visit https://extension.umn.edu/safety/grow....
<< MU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, Patrick Byers, provides a brief tutorial on water use.
<< Espanol: Cosechando el producto fresco teniendo en cuenta la seguridad alimentaria. This video describes and shows how to reduce the risk of contaminated produce with food safety practices including handwashing, animal prevention, animal droppings removal, documentation, using clean packing equipment, worker training, and more. Presented in Spanish language. For more information visit https://extension.umn.edu/safety/grow... |