Food Safety, Handling, and Processing

COVID-19, Urban Farms, and Food Safety Resources

 

Farm products can be accidentally contaminated at any time in the production cycle, for example, through improperly composted animal manure used as fertilizer, or if someone forgets to wash their hands before handling the harvest. Foodborne illness is a serious concern, and urban farmers should learn about how to make sure that the food they produce is safe for consumers.

Commercial farmers often follow best management practices to keep food safe that are known as “Good Agriculture Practices” or GAP. Although these standards are not required by law, sometimes buyers require farmers to follow these practices for their particular crop, and obtain a certification. The following resources will help you create a plan for your farm that will prevent contamination in the pre and post-harvest phase, properly store agricultural products, and process value added products so that quality and safety are maintained.