Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. The farm workers who harvest produce are an important part of making sure that the fruits and vegetables we enjoy are free from contamination. The new federal Food Safety Modernization Act makes worker training and compliance, be they hired laborers or family members, a part of the requirements that covered farms must implement. Portable toilets and packing sheds must have handwashing and drying stations accessible and people handling produce must always wash and dry their hands after using those facilities. These persons are trained to keep tools and equipment properly maintained and storage facilities clean as well. When workers are picking produce, they’re on the lookout for signs that domestic or wild animals have been in the fields, and with the grower they establish an area that won’t be harvested. We should also follow these rules and wash foods before eating them.
Washing Hands, Washing Produce Contributes to Food Safety
