The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference

Objective(s):
To examine the effect of cultural practices (insect and disease management and irrigation practices) on the movement of foodborne illness pathogens in horticultural crops.

Several foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years associated with fresh produce have led to the proposed legislation for more stringent food safety regulations for fruits and vegetables. This pending food safety legislation has the potential to alter fruit and vegetable production practices in the U.S. However, scientific research to support or refute the proposed regulations is greatly lacking. The purpose of this workshop is to examine the research currently being conducted on cultural practices as it pertains to the transmission of human enteric pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. A case-study of tomato growers on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and their response to foodborne illness outbreaks will be presented. The workshop also will examine the role of flies as carriers of pathogens to food plants and the implications for IPM programs for insect management. Are some flies better vectors than others? What is a safe distance for an animal operation to be located from a fruit or vegetable operation to minimize the risk of contamination? The workshop will follow the life of the pathogen on the crop plant as well. How long will the pathogen persist? Can the pathogen move into the plant from the leaf or fruit surface? Lastly, the workshop will address potential remediation practices that growers can use to reduce the risk of pathogen contamination, such as treating irrigation water. Is drip irrigation sufficient to minimize foodborne illness risks? Is quarterly or yearly water testing meaningful in a crop production environment? This workshop aims to create a dialogue and fuel research among participants to develop cultural practices for fruits and vegetables that will reduce the risk of foodborne illness and shape the pending food safety legislation.