Produce Safety

Choosing a safe and suitable farm site is just as important to human health as it is to the health of your crop.

Farm workers are the backbone of Washington agriculture, but they can also be a direct source of contamination.

Water used in irrigation, fertigation, and crop spray application must be managed so that it is not a source of contamination.

Soil amendments can be a great source of nutrients, but they can also pose a food safety risk if they aren’t properly managed.

Both wildlife and domesticated animals may be sources of contamination for the produce you’re growing on your farm.

The water used for washing hands, equipment, and produce poses a risk of contamination if there is not a system to manage it.

Using proper cleaning and sanitation practices keeps produce safe.

The risk of contamination by dangerous bacteria doesn’t end when produce is harvested.

As your operation grows, tracing produce—from where it was grown to where it was sold—becomes increasingly important.

Documentation is a must when it comes to effectively managing your farm’s food safety program.