The cost of implementation is often cited as a primary barrier to implementing food safety practices in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) on the farm. Costs include infrastructure and equipment upgrades and time and labor to implement new practices and maintain recordkeeping systems. The benefits of compliance with FSMA include maintaining and expanding existing market channel sales, accessing new markets and buyers, and strengthening of their farm brand to prospective buyers due to their food safety improvements. The researchers found the food safety benefit cost ratio for all farm size categories was above 1, indicating that, on average, the benefits of food safety improvements exceeded the costs, regardless of farm size. The average across all farms was 4.61 implying that the benefits received were 4.61 times that of their annual cost. There was a big difference between the benefit cost ratio for farms with a third-party audit (13.33) and without a third-party audit (1.57).
Category: Food Safety
CCE ENYCHP Blog Post: Environmental Protection Agency Mitigation Proposal Update – Ziram/Thiram/Ferbam
Environmental Protection Agency Mitigation Proposal Update: Ziram/Thiram/Ferbam Megan Luke, Penn State Extension, Viticulture & Tree Fruit Educator The EPA recently hosted a webinar to address concerns and to outline new measures for mitigating risks pertaining to the use of three commonly used fungicides: ziram, thiram, and ferbam. It is crucial to understand what changes are Read More…
Dealing with storm/flood damage on your farm.
Maire Ullrich, CCE Orange County and Elizabeth Higgins, CCE ENYCH If you have had flooding in your fields or crop damage due to storms here are some guidelines to follow. First Steps – Document the Damage If you have flood/storm damage to your crops it is important that you remember to take pictures and document Read More…
FSMA Inspection and On-Farm Readiness Review Updates
Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP & Craig Kahlke, CCE LOFP Is your farm ready for a FSMA Produce Safety Rule inspection? As the growing season begins, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is booking inspections and educational On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) around the state to see farm activities in action. For the third Read More…
New Produce Safety Factsheets Available for Hydroponics Producers
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Extension Specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension, ENYCHP Understanding how to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)’s Produce Safety Rule can be challenging for hydroponics and aquaponics producers. In response to an identified need for more tailored resources for this industry, the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) developed a set of Read More…
Online Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Train the Trainer Course Approved
Teresa Rusinek, Extension Specialist CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program The WPS is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation intended to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from risk of exposure. If you are an agricultural employer or manager, you must know your responsibilities under the WPS and provide WPS training and protections to employees. Read More…
Visitor Food Safety Policies for a Successful Pick-Your-Own Season
Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP With pick-your-own (PYO) apple season upon us, customers are eager to get outdoors and enjoy the fall season and orchard scenery. Welcoming visitors to the orchard requires many advanced preparations to ensure a positive experience for both customers and employees. Food safety considerations should be included in these preparations as well. Read More…
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food Read More…
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. USDA’s new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will help to offset costs for specialty crop producers to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements, which is part of USDA’s broader effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small and medium producers and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture.