Growing Forward

Food Safety:

Understanding it’s importance and Learning

Hard Lessons

The Real Life Stories

Nathan Creek Organic Farm CSA

-Stephen Gallaher

• Problem: Water

• Solution:

– Determine the Risk Factors

– Implement alternatives

Kildara Organic Farm

- Brian Hughes

• Problem: Food Recall of

Salad Greens

• Solution:

– Work with Inspectors

– Implement changes

Both “stories” applied Prevention strategies to

address risks from becoming big problems!

Good Agricultural PracticesRe: Water Issues

• Source Assessment

– Read Flow Charts (BC GAP Guide) and identify all your

uses (irrigation, fluming, hydro-cooling, sanitation)

• Test your water – determine how often, and

method (on-site, lab)

• If treatment is required and installed:

– Write up an SOP as to how it must be maintained (e.g.

Cleaning of irrigation pipes, how to back-flush filter)

– Keep records of all testing and maintenance done

Good Alternatives of Practice

- alternatives do work!

Good Agricultural PracticesRe: Growing, Harvesting & Processing

• Risk Assessments (BC GAP Guide Flow Charts)

– Possible Sources of – “cross–contamination”

• Look at all areas where this may have occurred

– People / Animals / Poultry / Wildlife

– Environment:

» Harvesting equipment / tools / containers

» Locations: actually growing area,

processing area

» Environment: Soil, Air Flow, Water

Good Agricultural Practices

Food Safety Plan1. Determine the Practices

required to ward off the

Risks from becoming a

problem – be prepared to

develop YOUR OWN

Practices!

2. Implement the Practice

(SOPs, Posters, Signs)

3. Document the Practice on

Record Forms

YOUR FARMYOUR FARMYOUR FARMYOUR FARM

What’s the differences between

these two water sources?

Let’s Take a Walk......

�Scope of Manual

�Motivational Reading Pane

�Inventory of “What applies to my

farm?” Worksheet based on Risk

Identification through Flow Charts

�The Practices

•Practice

•Applies to....

•What needs to be done

•How to do it

•Records to Keep

•If you need an audit

�Support Tools

Review of the Workshop

1. Real Life Stories – Thank You

Stephen and Brian

2. The Lessons Learned – Prevention

Strategies do Work

3. Word of Encouragement:

Keep It Simple