Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. The produce safety rules portion of the Food and Drug Administrations’ new Food Safety Modernization act are based on common sense. Some of the rules cover testing water used for irrigation and a higher standard for the water used for worker hygiene, washing produce, and making ice. Other categories set rules for when manure and compost can be applied to fields. In some states, Federal representatives inspect and determine whether or not farms are in compliance – they simply show up for the inspection. In South Carolina, however, our own Department of Agriculture has assumed that duty and has established a program to help growers, beginning with a one-day seminar followed by a complimentary farm visit. The complimentary visit identifies any areas that need improving before the formal inspection is performed by a state department of ag specialist.
Common Sense Rules for Safe Produce
