Irrigation Water Remediation for Vegetable Growers

Fresh produce safety and human health are critical issues for farmers regardless of production scale.  Consumers are demanding assurances from produce growers and retailers that their produce is safe.  Through the use of Good Agricultural Practices, growers are able to identify important transfer points of pathogens to fresh produce.  These include workers hands, animals and the water used on the farm.  Irrigation water quality can be particularly difficult to manage if the producer is limited to surface water sources.  One critical area of concern in production is irrigation water that is applied to the crop during the season.  Knowing the quality of that water and methods to remediate that water if necessary are critical areas of concern.  In an effort to address this potential source of contamination, growers are looking for practical and cost effective solutions to treat irrigation water prior to application.  This talk will focus on methods of remediation currently available to fresh produce growers.  The strengths and weaknesses of each system will be discussed.  Research results with these systems will highlighted where applicable.