Michigan’s Safe Food Risk Assessment Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

-Voluntary and confidential -Small farm scale-appropriate -Recognition -No cost Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Certificate of Completion ABC Farms Operated by: Farm Owner Has successfully completed The Safe Food Risk Assessment An educational assessment to encourage safe food practices. September 26, 2012 (Valid for three years; annual review required) _______________________________________________________ James Johnson Environmental Stewardship Division Director Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development _______________________________________________________ Local Signature Chairman, Oceana Conservation District Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment September 26, 2013

Certified GAP Audit Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Certified GAP Audit USDA GAP Primus Labs NSF Davis Fresh AIB International Other Check buyer’s requirement Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

MDARD Priorities Assuring food safety Protecting animal and plant health Sustaining environmental stewardship Providing consumer protection Enabling rural development Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Michigan Agriculture Commission More than 6,000 direct-to-consumer producers No oversight on food safety Burden for smaller producers (formal audit) Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Create food safety assessment Pilot test in west Michigan 2010 – 2011 GREEEN Grant Expand number of assessments (100 goal) 2012 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Expand coverage Statewide coverage? Future funding? Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Safe Food Risk Assessment Based on USDA GAP standardsFormatted MAEAP risk asssessment Risk questions Low, Medium and High Risk answers Box indicating a risk question that is scored Need 80% for a certificate of completion Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

2011 On-farm study One out of 12 producers scored 80+% Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

2011 On-farm study One out of 12 producers scored 80+% Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

On-farm study: Producer reluctance Worried not “pass” assessment o “Can of worms” o “Big brother” Not sure the certificate of completion adds value Too costly to make/maintain food safety changes Most do not have a food safety plan Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Food safety plans Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center Trevor Nichols Research Center Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Acceptable Food Safety Plan Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

On-farm study: Lack of definite guidance Natural barriers between crop and livestock production Field sanitation units properly located o To minimized food safety risks Water Testing o For worker hand washing and drinking o Irrigation water o Spray water for pesticides and nutrients o Processing produce (washing) Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

On-farm study: Water Testing Producers think surface water need to test 0 E. coli Municipal water = 0 E coli Farm water well = 0 E coli Surface water ≠ 0 E coli Well water to fill irrigation pond (considered surface water) Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Water Testing Production water is a potential source of contamination GAP is only guidance - not law New FSMA threshold guidance – still not law No required threshold level o Water testing records o Appropriate water use based on water tests Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Risk factors and WQ FactorFood Safety Risk Crop grows in soil or at soil surface Crop grows off the ground or trellis/staked Irrigation water from municipal sources Irrigation water properly constructed farm well Irrigation water from farm pond Irrigation water from river or stream Method of irrigation ? Produce consumed raw Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

2014 State Coverage Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment

Questions? Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment