Sanitation Practices in Apple Harvesting & Storage: Insights from NECAFS Annual Meeting
Dive into the world of cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces during apple harvesting and storage. Discover perspectives from auditors, inspectors, and growers at the NECAFS Annual Meeting regarding picking bag sanitation, storage recommendations, and insights into different sanitizing practices. Uncover the challenges and potential contamination risks associated with various types of picking bags used in the industry.
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Presentation Transcript
Case Study Panel: Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces in Apple Harvesting & Storage Craig Kahlke Area Extension Specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension Lake Ontario Fruit Program NECAFS Annual Conference January 23rd, 2024
Outline Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 My Background Focus on Picking Bag Sanitation/Storage & Record-Keeping Auditor/Inspector Perspectives What they re looking for/seeing on 3rd-party audits & FSMA Inspections Grower Perspectives What SOPs they re using What they ve heard on audits and inspections Knowledge GAPs There are many different types of picking bags, with different types of materials Canvas, plastic, foam, etc. There are potential differences in the ability to reliably sanitize these surfaces What are the potentials for contamination?
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Picking Bag Sanitation Auditor/Inspector Perspectives -What they re looking for/seeing on 3rd-party audits and FSMA Inspections They seem to fall into roughly 3 categories ~ 20% inspect + replace worn parts but don t clean and sanitize at all ~ 60% replace & wash skirts, sometimes wipe with 1:10 solution of bleach:water Some do the sanitizing beginning of season, some weekly or daily, some as needed ~ 20% use sanitizing wipes, beginning of season, some weekly or daily, some as needed (seems to be preferred most by regulators)
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Picking Bag Storage As recommended by auditors & inspectors Barn, office, bus are the usual locations Home not preferred, unless in a mud room or vestibule, hung outside, etc. Animals, cross contamination, etc.
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Picking Bag Sanitation Grower Perspectives Mainly the three categories seen by inspectors Inspect + replace worn parts but don t clean and sanitize at all Replace & wash skirts, sometimes wipe with 1:10 solution water/bleach Some do the sanitizing beginning of season, some weekly or daily, some as needed Use sanitizing wipes, beginning of season, some weekly or daily, some as needed (seems to be preferred most by regulators) Some replace X percentage of picking bags/year with new ones Some glue in new liners every other year One crop consultant recommending cleaning with Dawn dish soap, as it is labeled for food contact surfaces
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Picking Bag Storage As done by growers In-season -variable depending on operation Left in vans Left in Barns Brought home by pickers Left in a vestible/mud room/outdoor area Off-season storage in covered apple bins in enclosed storage unit in a shed with elevated racks in an enclosed barn
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Comments from Audits & Inspections Audit/inspectors Main pet peeve they do not want to see picking bags on the ground when not in use Prefer on back of truck, hanging from a post, etc. Growers Reinforce with pickers Keep picking bags off the ground when not in use Nothing goes in them except apples during harvest If they have to take them home, this is especially important
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Record-Keeping Equipment Cleaning & Sanitizing record-keeping log This is a requirement of FSMA that 3rd-party auditors aren t necessarily looking for Date/Time/List tools/equipment/cleaning/sanitizing/method used/cleaned by Reference SOPs for cleaning sanitizing specific equipment, harvest containers, etc.
Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24 Knowledge GAPs Knowledge GAPs There are many different types of picking bags, with different types of materials Canvas, plastic, foam, etc. There are potential differences in the ability to reliably sanitize these surfaces What are the potentials for contamination? There is science and research behind this, that will be shared by Laura & Alexis
THANKS! QUESTIONS? Craig Kahlke Area Extension Specialist CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program cjk37@cornell.edu 585-735-5448 Kahlke NECAFS Annual Meeting 1-23-24
