What does it mean to create a culture of food safety? Micah Hutchison, a Produce Safety Technician, and Mariel Borgman, an MSU Extension Educator, sit down and discuss the things, ideas, and activities all employees should share to promote a good food safety culture on the farm.
Additional Resources
Glitterbug Handwashing Activity

Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

This episode features Kristin Esch and Brent Kreiger from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). They give us some insights on produce safety inspections, including the differences between an inspection and an audit, what growers should expect during an inspection, how growers can prepare beforehand, and more.
For more information on produce safety inspections and how you can prepare, take a look at these videos created by MDARD:
Produce Safety Inspection for Farm Owners
Produce Safety Inspection for Farm Workers
Produce Safety Technical Assistance
Additional Resources:

Contact your local Produce Safety Technician
Learn more about On-Farm Readiness Reviews

Funding for this podcast was made possible in part by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in the posted materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

"Bacteria cannot walk, but they can swim." In this episode, we dive into the science behind washing produce and its impact on both produce safety and product quality. Dr. Teresa Bergholz, an associate professor of food science at Michigan State University, shares her research on washing leafy greens and the factors that can influence microbial risk. Joining the conversation are Phil Tocco, a produce safety educator with MSU Extension, and Landen Tetil, a Produce Safety Technician, who offer insights into best practices for washing produce on the farm.

Beginning farmer educators and partners from across Michigan have come together to author a beginning farmer curriculum, rooted in participatory action learning, to offer a solid foundation for beginning farmer training programs. In this episode, Mariel Borgman and Kathy Sample talk through their contributions to the curriculum and how these modules can support effective learning and engagement for beginning farmers.

Beginning Farmer Curriculum and Resources:

beginningfarmercurriculum.org

Beginning Farmer Workshops:

Kalamazoo Valley Community College will be hosting a series of free workshops for beginning farmers for an opportunity to learn farming skills and provide feedback on the new curriculum modules. A produce safety-specific workshop will be held on May 29.

All workshop dates and topics are listed below. Click a link below to register.

• May 22 - Urban Agriculture and Policy
• May 29 - Produce Safety
• June 5 - Soil Health
• June 12 - Integrated Pest Management
• June 19 - Pollinators
• June 26 - Farm Financial Management

Train-The-Trainer Workshops:

A series of train-the-trainer workshops have been planned in 2025 for beginning farmer educators to receive an introduction to the curricula and teaching techniques. Click a link below to register!

• June 3 – Grand Rapids, register here
• June 6 – Flint, register here
• June 10 – Online, register here
• June 17 – Chatham, register here

This episode features Phil Tocco, an MSU Extension Produce Safety Educator, and Michelle Danyluk, a professor and extension specialist in microbiological food safety at the University of Florida. Michelle shares what her and her colleagues have learned from their research on cleaning and sanitizing leafy greens harvesters, and offers practical advice for how growers can keep their equipment clean.