Food Safety a Top Priority in Alabama Produce Industry

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By Katie Nichols, Communications Specialist/Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Food safety is an important component in the Alabama produce industry.

AUBURN University, Ala. – With Alabama’s growing season in full swing, produce growers are working to ensure continuing food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC, USDA and FDA agree that there is no indication the virus can infect consumers through food or food packaging.

Good Agricultural Practices

Alabama Extension food safety regional extension agent Kristin Woods said the produce industry uses Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to help protect against foodborne illness.

Woods said that many growers go through voluntary audits to verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.

“Food system workers — including harvesters, packers, processing line workers and others — are critical to  a safe and consistent food supply in the U.S.,” Woods said. “In fact, a Department of Homeland Security issued guidance recognized agricultural production, food processing, distribution, retail and food service as well as allied industries workers as essential workers.”

Health of Agricultural Workers

Woods said worker health is crucial to a stable supply.

“Farms already have food safety protocols in place to preserve the safety of freshly harvested products, but now there are also enhanced procedures to protect employees from the virus,” she said. “These procedures protect workers during harvest and in packinghouses so that producers can keep food flowing from farm to table.”

Woods said consumers should know some key facts about the produce industry.

  • Food system workers are highly trained. These workers undergo extensive training to prevent the hazards that cause foodborne illness. They have the knowledge to assess risks on the farm, during processing, at retail and in the kitchen.
  • If a worker tests positive for COVID-19, they go home. Individuals who come in contact with an infected person should self-quarantine.
  • Processing facilities have enhanced procedures to frequently clean and sanitize high-traffic surfaces. This virus, like others, can survive on surfaces for an extended time making cleaning and sanitizing vital.
  • There is no food shortage in the U.S. Shoppers may see empty grocery store shelves in the short-term. However, many packinghouses are shifting gears from food service accounts to retail accounts. This switch takes time to see on the grocery store shelf.

Woods encourages shoppers to exercise patience instead of stockpiling.

“Shifting our food supply from foodservice to retail in a short amount of time is not an easy job,” she said.

To read the whole story, see food safety.