Improving Salad Mix Quality and Yield Through Soil Management and Post Harvest Techniques

2001 Annual Report for FS01-130

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2001: $9,600.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2002
Region: Southern
State: Kentucky
Principal Investigator:
Carol Cassedy
C/O Whitestone Organic Farm

Improving Salad Mix Quality and Yield Through Soil Management and Post Harvest Techniques

Summary

The natural foods industry is currently moving toward voluntary compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). GAP is a set of food safety guidelines and standards issued by the FDA and USDA designed to improve food safety practices on farms. GAP is similar to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) programs required of food processors. These standards create another challenge for many small organic producers to meet when marketing their produce. Maintaining high organic standards, good sanitary conditions and the ability to verify these criteria without going bankrupt will be a major challenge for many growers. But, food safety and sustainable agriculture techniques are very closely linked; healthy and safe food comes from healthy soil and safe post-harvest techniques.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate how organic methodology is safe and free from contaminants, both in the field and post-harvest. How that safety and integrity is preserved will also be demonstrated from soil maintenance to harvest, handling, storage and transport. GAP will be designed to meet the new USDA organic regulations and the sanitation practices recommended by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health services for soil improvement, harvesting, cleaning, storage and transport. These documents can serve as models for other growers who wish to incorporate GAP in their farm’s certification.

Collaborators:

Tim McClure

Shelby Co. Cooperative U.K.
Guy Delius

KY Cabinet for Health Services
John Johnson

Farm Services Agency USDA
Victoria M Bhavsar

Soil Science, University of Kentucky
Hope Crain

KY Department of Agriculture