Have you pondered ponics systems? Sean Fogarty is a Research Specialist at the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety focused on-farm produce safety in the Northeast, and hydroponic and aquaponic food safety nationwide. We talked all about aquaponics & hydroponics, risks to consider, and how interested growers can venture into ponics operations of their own.

Some post-show notes from Sean:

• When recirculating a nutrient solution, water treatment of some form will be required to maintain optimal water quality (chemically, physically, and biologically). At the most basic this includes physical filtration to remove particulates from the recirculating flow.

• Accumulation of organic matter (OM) in the nutrient solution is something to avoid, whereas in soil-based farming you want to increase OM. There are a few ways to measure the OM accumulation, the simplest of which is turbidity. People also use ORP (oxygen reduction potential) as an indicator of nutrient solution quality.

• Even for exempt farms and produce, it is a good idea to prevent contact between the recirculating water and the edible portions of the produce. This reduces the chance of a single contamination event spreading to the rest of the system.

Resources:

• Factsheets - Produce Safety in Hydroponic and Aquaponic Operations https://go.uvm.edu/ponics

  • Cleaning and Sanitizing

  • Fish Health and Handling

  • Harvest and Postharvest Handling

  • Personal Health and Hygiene

  • Wildlife and Domesticated Animals

• Hydroponic Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Course - Ohio State University ($150 fee)

  • Qualifies as “GAPs training” for USDA GAP/GHP Audit or as “Worker Education and Training” for GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standard USDA Checklist and Harmonized GAP+ Audit

• CEA Food Safety Coalition

  • Industry group that developed supplemental guidance for CEA operations undergoing or preparing for Global Food Safety Initiative or equivalent audits

  • CEA Food Safety Certified label and certification information

Fellow local food safety collaborators, Kentucky Horticulture Council's Dakota Moore and Dani D'Antonio, dive in to the world of water testing--various sources, how to test your water, and best practices to ensure your water is continually safe with minimal risk.

Kentucky Horticulture Council Resources:

Ag Water Sampling & Testing Resources: https://kyhortcouncil.org/ag-water-sampling-testing/

Ag Water Testing How-To Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVyJ0VH6aG-zE3Nq6HOCC0b-XuMFMFo7Q

NECAFS Water Testing: https://go.uvm.edu/waterlabmap

University of Vermont Extension Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering and Director of the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) Chris Callahan clarifies common questions and misconceptions around cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and shares some simple methods to incorporate hygienic design practices into your operation to streamline your food safety management.

LINKS:

• UVM Ag Engineering Site. http://go.uvm.edu/ageng

• SCRUB Project Page. http://go.uvm.edu/scrub

• A Guide to Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting. http://go.uvm.edu/clean-sanitize-disinfect

• Cleaning Tools & Supplies for Produce Farms. https://go.uvm.edu/cleaningtools

• Cleaning Tools for Produce Farms - Video Series. https://go.uvm.edu/cleaningtoolsvideo

• Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces. https://go.uvm.edu/detergents

• Hygienic Design for Produce Farms. http://go.uvm.edu/hygienicdesign

Wisconsin Farmers Union members Danielle Endvick, LaDonna Green, and Kriss Marion share their individual farm stories, discuss why storytelling matters more than ever, and how to share yours with audiences hungry for both good food and good stories big or small.

University of Minnesota Extension educator Annalisa Hultberg and Laura Frerichs of Loon Farm, a diversified 40-acre organic farm in Hutchinson, Minnesota, shine a light on food safety risks commonly hidden in plain sight and simple ways to effectively reduce those risks.

Farmer Lorig Hawkins takes us through their food safety journey and how they formed a dynamic food safety plan at Middle Ground Farm in Central Texas.

We're going "bac" to bacteria basics with Produce Safety Alliance Director Betsy Bihn, dishing on microbes, hazards vs risks, pathogen transmission, and why integrating food safety into your farm management is always a good idea.

Find out who and what are covered, not covered, and qualified exempt under the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule.