The Farmers Beet

In this episode we visit Urban Tilth, a community-based organization in Richmond, California. We learn about the organization’s mission and programs to cultivate agriculture and build a more sustainable, healthy and just food system in West Contra Costa County. One of the farm managers, Debora Supinski, describes their year-long journey to formalize food safety practices through writing a food safety plan and SOPs. Listeners can look forward to hearing about the farm’s approach to volunteer management, maintaining food safety across the farm and distribution and efficiencies behind their wash and pack station.

In this episode we visit Sysourath Farms in Fresno, California. Veomany Sysourath, a second generation farmer, shares about her family’s history emigrating to the United States, working in agriculture and eventually starting their farm. Sysourath Farms grows a variety of Southeast Asian specialty crops on leased land, which presents infrastructure challenges. We learn about the farm’s food safety practices and requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), plus innovative tools they use to ensure their farm complies with FSMA.

In this episode we visit Steve Fukagawa Farms in Kingsburg, California. Steve Fukagawa is a third generation Japanese farmer, growing organically in the San Joaquin Valley. We learn about Steve’s family history farming in California, his production of organic tree fruit and raisin grapes, and use of compost tea. We also discuss how the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) can impact the way growers use and apply soil amendments such as compost tea.

In this episode we interview Daniel Karp, Ph.D., Associate Professor at UC Davis studying conservation in working landscapes. Danny describes his research related to wildlife habitat conservation and bird activity on farms, and implications for food safety on produce farms. He also provides risk management considerations for farms with bird activity and resources for farms interested in attracting beneficial birds for their pest control services.

In this episode we visit Jacobs Farm / del Cabo in Watsonville, California. Larry Jacobs, one of the co-founders, tells us about the company history and relationship with growers in Mexico. We learn how food safety regulations for imported produce helped identify contamination from an unlikely source, the importance of keeping wells covered and maintained, and tips for developing an engaging employee food safety training program.

In this episode we visit Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, California. We learn about the farm’s mission to connect agriculture, education and ancient Jewish wisdom. The farmers give us a tour of the food forest, production fields, laying hens and compost production, and describe how food safety plays a role in their day-to-day operations. Listeners can look forward to hearing tips and tricks related to food safety recordkeeping and volunteer and employee training.

In this episode we hear from Dr. Floyd D. Harris Jr. of Fresno Freedom School in Fresno, California. We learn about the organization’s history and mission to connect Fresno’s youth with agriculture, how they implement food safety practices as an urban-based education farm and tips for communicating their food and human safety guidelines to youth, parents and volunteers.

In this episode we visit Tyler Stowers, the farm manager at Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova, California. We learn about the organization’s history and growth, how they integrate food safety practices into their day-to-day operations as an urban-based education farm and address the food safety saying “never let produce touch the ground”.

In this episode we visit Ken Kimes at New Natives Farm in Santa Cruz County. We learn how New Natives pivoted during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic and their food safety practices, including tips for passing a third party food safety audit. Ken also walks us through the farm’s post harvest process and identifies helpful tools and equipment.

In this episode we visit Shanon and Michael Whamond at their farm in Placer County, CA. We learn about Shanon and Michael's farming journey, recent challenges and their farm's food safety practices, including how they maintain produce quality during hot summer days and prevent risk of cross-contamination throughout busy days.