Environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) are a proactive approach that operations may take to reduce microbial contamination events. EMPs are designed to assess the effectiveness of the hygiene and sanitation practices in a food environment and provide valuable information to avoid microbial contamination of food products. EMPs are specific to each operation and depend upon the food(s) that are handled, packed, and or processed; operation size; operation layout; among other factors. If EMPs are effective, operations will be alerted to possible pathogen harborage locations based on positive test results, and operations will be able to implement corrective actions to reduce contamination events. Corrective actions may include targeted cleaning and sanitation of locations/adjacent locations that test positive and implementation of new policies or practices to reduce cross-contamination (for example, new employee or equipment traffic patterns). This publication serves as an introductory guide.

The Produce Safety Rule (PSR) is one of the seven major food safety regulations that are authorized by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The PSR standards (subpart F) describe the minimum requirements for treated and untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin and human waste for reducing public health risk and the risk of contaminating covered produce. The PSR standards include requirements for determining if biological soil amendments of animal origin are treated or untreated and how to handle them. The standards also address the use of human waste, treatment of the biological soil amendments, application methods and intervals, and recordkeeping.

The Food Safety Modernization act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) covers packinghouse activities in several subparts of the regulation. These include subpart D - worker health and hygiene, subpart E - agricultural water, subpart K - growing, harvesting, packing, and holding activities, and subpart L - equipment, tools, buildings, and sanitation. Applying the practices required by the PSR to packing houses is an important element to ensure the safety of fruits and vegetables.

This publication introduces the reader to vegetable fermentation and describes the steps on how to ferment vegetables safely at home.

In Part 1 of a four part series, we will provide a brief context related to the Farm to Fork continuum, then look at the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, how it is transmitted, and what we know about preventing its spread. Presented by Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists, Melissa Chase, Joell Eifert, Laura Strawn, Rob Williams, and Amber Vallotton. This webinar was conducted on April 9, 2020.

In Part 2 of a four part series, we will take a look at expanding practices and policies related to worker health and hygiene in the environment of prevention and mitigation of COVID-19.. Presented by Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists, Melissa Chase, Joell Eifert, Laura Strawn, Rob Williams, and Amber Vallotton. This webinar was conducted on April 9, 2020.

In Part 3 of this four-part series, we will look at cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting practices to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 spread, as well as packaging, storage, and delivery concerns, and the importance of recordkeeping. We will then briefly discuss some of the COVID-19 myths that have been circulating since the pandemic began, in order to dispel misinformation. Presented by Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists, Melissa Chase, Joell Eifert, Laura Strawn, Rob Williams, and Amber Vallotton. This webinar was conducted on April 9, 2020.

In Part 4 of this four-part series, we will discuss answers to various questions raised during our webinar on food safety and COVID-19. Presented by Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists, Melissa Chase, Joell Eifert, Laura Strawn, Rob Williams, and Amber Vallotton. This webinar was conducted on April 9, 2020.