The Food Safety Risks of Harvesting Dropped and Drooping Produce: A Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Doren ◽  
Robert Hadad ◽  
Lisa McKeag ◽  
Caitlin Tucker ◽  
Elizabeth Newbold
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Rule Sets ◽  
Managing Risk ◽  
The Impact

The Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule sets forth minimum standards for fruit and vegetable production in the U.S. One provision states that growers must not harvest dropped produce, as damage or ground contact may contaminate produce. An unpublished survey of 2020 food safety inspections conducted by the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety identified handling of dropped covered produce as a common misunderstanding and non-compliance issue among Northeast growers. In considering this provision’s on-farm practicality, this review was conducted to evaluate the risks associated with dropped and drooping produce to guide growers in making informed risk management decisions, and to answer the following questions: 1) What are the risk factors that influence transferability of pathogens from touching the ground to produce?; and 2) What are the risks associated with harvesting dropped or drooping produce covered under the Rule? A search of online databases found twelve relevant publications, which highlight moisture, contact time, and crop features as affecting contamination rates from a ground surface to a crop surface. Soil and mulch pose a differential risk, with bare soil generally presenting a lower risk than plastic mulch. The effects of other mulch types is unclear. Mulches may promote pathogen persistence in soil, though they may also protect produce from contaminated soils. These studies are limited in their scope and applicability and most do not directly address dropped produce. Future research is needed to clarify the varying effects of dropped and drooping produce, the impact of ground surface type on pathogen survivability and transfer, soil and crop features that facilitate contamination, and post-harvest risks of harvesting dropped or drooping produce. A comprehensive understanding will guide growers in implementing preventive measures and better managing risk in a way practicable to their farm's unique conditions.

scholarly journals Comparative Performance of Sugarcane Bagasse and Black Polyethylene as Mulch for Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Production

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Charles L. Webber III ◽  
Paul M. White Jr ◽  
Douglas J. Spaunhorst ◽  
Eric C. Petrie
Keyword(s):  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Cucurbita Pepo ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Steam Power ◽  
Raw Sugar ◽  
Black Plastic

Louisiana processed 11.7 million mt of sugarcane in 2016, producing 1.47 million mt of raw sugar and an estimated 3.5 million mt of bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after removing the sucrose, water, and other impurities (filter mud) from the millable sugarcane. Typically, Louisiana sugarcane mills burn a portion of the bagasse to heat boilers to steam power the mill for grinding and sugar processing. The balance of the bagasse is stored at the sugar mill where it accumulates in immense piles. Research was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the use of sugarcane bagasse as a natural mulch for vegetable production. The field experiment compared sugarcane bagasse mulch, black plastic mulch, and no mulch (control) for suitable mulching treatments for squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) production. The black plastic mulch produced significantly greater marketable fruits/plant, fruit number, and total yield (kg/ha) across years compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch. The sugarcane bagasse mulch and the no mulch control were not significantly different for these same parameters. Black plastic also produced heaver fruit (g/fruit) than the sugarcane bagasse mulch and the control in 2015. The black plastic mulch produced greater yields due to the greater cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) received compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch and no mulch control. The sugarcane bagasse mulch tended to mitigate temperature extremes by serving as a soil insulator. Future research should investigate the potential deleterious impact, if any, of the sugarcane bagasse on soil microbes, C/N ratio, soil pH, and allelopathy, which might adversely influence cucurbit growth.

scholarly journals The Effects of Plastic Mulch Systems on Soil Temperature and Moisture in Central Ontario

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla Snyder ◽  
Amanda Grant ◽  
Christopher Murray ◽  
Bryon Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Black Films ◽  
Mulch Films ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Canada Data ◽  
Soil Temperature And Moisture

The impact of polyolefin-based agricultural mulch films (including clear, black, and white-on-black films) on soil temperature and moisture content was studied, using a bare plot as a control, over a 4-month period in central Ontario, Canada. Data indicate a negative correlation between the change in soil temperature under the films relative to bare soil and the absolute value of bare soil temperature. Additionally, a negative correlation between the effect of films on soil moisture and the moisture level of bare soil was indicated. All mulch films demonstrated qualitatively similar ability to insulate the soil from extremes in both temperature and moisture, suggesting a potentially reduced need for irrigation and protecting against early frost, high temperatures, overwatering, and drought.

scholarly journals Nano-Enable Materials Promoting Sustainability and Resilience in Modern Agriculture

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2068
Author(s):  
Hafeez Ur Rahim ◽  
Muhammad Qaswar ◽  
Misbah Uddin ◽  
Cinzia Giannini ◽  
Maria Lidia Herrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
The Impact

Intensive conventional agriculture and climate change have induced severe ecological damages and threatened global food security, claiming a reorientation of agricultural management and public policies towards a more sustainable development model. In this context, nanomaterials promise to support this transition by promoting mitigation, enhancing productivity, and reducing contamination. This review gathers recent research innovations on smart nanoformulations and delivery systems improving crop protection and plant nutrition, nanoremediation strategies for contaminated soils, nanosensors for plant health and food quality and safety monitoring, and nanomaterials as smart food-packaging. It also highlights the impact of engineered nanomaterials on soil microbial communities, and potential environmental risks, along with future research directions. Although large-scale production and in-field testing of nano-agrochemicals are still ongoing, the collected information indicates improvements in uptake, use efficiency, targeted delivery of the active ingredients, and reduction of leaching and pollution. Nanoremediation seems to have a low negative impact on microbial communities while promoting biodiversity. Nanosensors enable high-resolution crop monitoring and sustainable management of the resources, while nano-packaging confers catalytic, antimicrobial, and barrier properties, preserving food safety and preventing food waste. Though, the application of nanomaterials to the agri-food sector requires a specific risk assessment supporting proper regulations and public acceptance.

scholarly journals 490 Effects of Rye–Vetch No-till and Habitat Strips and Black Plastic Mulch on Insect Densities, Weed Control, and Freshmarket Cucumber Growth and Yield

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 478E-479
Author(s):  
John Caldwell ◽  
Maurice Ogutu
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
No Till ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Black Plastic

Greater plant diversity is associated with reduced insect pest pressure, but field-scale vegetable production systems incorporating plant diversity have been lacking. Cucumber was grown in 1998 and 1999 at the Virginia Tech Kentland experimental farm, by direct seeding or transplanting into rye/vetch mixture rolled to make a no-till mulch alternating with strips of vetch left to flower as a habitat for beneficial insects between cucumber rows, or direct-seeded into black plastic mulch between habitat strips or with bare soil between rows. Rye and hairy vetch were seeded at 56 kg·ha–1 each the preceding fall; only rye was planted in plots without habitats. A rippled coulter, cutting shank, and daisy wheels mounted on a tractor-drawn toolbar enabled a belt-driven seeder to seed cucumbers without pulling the no-till mulch. One hand weeding in cucumber rows at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) provided weed control equivalent to pre-emergence herbicide. At 3 WAP, no-till transplanted cucumbers had higher above-ground plant dry weights than no-till direct seeded cucumbers in both years, but, at 6 WAP, cucumber above-ground plant dry weights were equal (1999) or higher (1998) in direct seeded no-till than in transplanted no-till or black plastic mulch on bare soil. In 1999, Pennsylvania leatherwings, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus DeG. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), a cucumber beetle predator, had higher densities and cucumber beetles lower densities in no-till plots than in black plastic mulch plots, and bacterial wilt incidence was reduced in plots with habitat strips and no insecticide application compared to plots without habitat strips and four insecticide applications. Cumulative marketable yields in no-till were 59% higher in 1998 and 23% higher in 1999 compared to yields on black plastic mulch.

scholarly journals Quantifying glyphosate plus 2,4-D or dicamba removal from the surface of Totally Impermeable Film using analytical and bioassay techniques

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Lavesta C. Hand ◽  
Kayla M. Eason ◽  
Taylor M. Randell ◽  
Timothy L. Grey ◽  
John S. Richburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Residual Activity ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Rainfall Amount ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Time Of Application ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The loss of methyl bromide led to vegetable growers relying more heavily on herbicides to control weeds. Although herbicides can be effective, limited options in vegetable production challenge growers. Identifying new, effective tools to be applied over plastic mulch prior to planting for improved weed control with minimal crop injury would be beneficial. The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the persistence of preplant applications of glyphosate (1,125 or 2,250 g ae ha-1) plus 2,4-D (1,065 or 2,130 g ae ha-1) or dicamba (560 g ae ha-1) over plastic mulch using analytical techniques and subsequent squash and watermelon response. Glyphosate and 2,4-D were not analytically detected at damaging concentrations on plastic mulch when at least 3.5 cm of rainfall was received after application and before planting. Additionally, bioassay results for squash and watermelon supported analytical results with less than 10% visual injury for either crop, with no growth or yield suppression observed. In contrast, dicamba concentrations on plastic mulch, regardless of rainfall amount or time between application and planting, remained at damaging levels. Squash yields were reduced by dicamba applied 1 to 30 days before planting while watermelon was more resilient. 2,4-D plus glyphosate applied preplant over plastic mulch can provide an additional herbicide option for vegetable growers. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of residual activity of 2,4-D when transplants land directly in holes present in plastic mulch at the time of application. The relationship of dicamba with plastic mulch is complex as the herbicide cannot be easily removed by rainfall. Thus, dicamba should not be included in a weed management system in plasticulture vegetable production.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Food Safety Perceptions—A Choice-Based Willingness to Pay Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7270
Author(s):  
Oliver Meixner ◽  
Felix Katt
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Safety Perceptions ◽  
Wet Market ◽  
The Impact

As the COVID-19 pandemic brings about sudden change in societies across the globe and likely heralds the start of a recession, we examine the pandemic’s impact on consumer food safety perceptions. Due to its origin, COVID-19, likely spurring from an animal-to-human transmission in the context of a wet market, may impact consumer food perceptions in similar ways to the avian flu (H5N1) and the swine flu (H1N1). We examine this effect by studying preferences for beef meat in a consumer survey in the United States (n = 999) using a choice-based experiment. We compare our findings to Lim et al. (2014), who elicited consumer beef willingness to pay (WTP). Additionally, we investigate the impact of the looming recession by analyzing several attributes and their effect on consumer preferences. Our findings suggest that food safety concerns have become more important. As a result, production standards and the country of origin have lost importance. Additionally, we show that the socioeconomic impact for some respondents impacts their shopping preferences. Finally, we outline potential areas for future research as well as managerial implications.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

Food Safety Security: A new Concept for Enhancing Food Safety Measures

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh Iyengar ◽  
Ibrahim Elmadfa
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Strategic Action ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
The Impact

The food safety security (FSS) concept is perceived as an early warning system for minimizing food safety (FS) breaches, and it functions in conjunction with existing FS measures. Essentially, the function of FS and FSS measures can be visualized in two parts: (i) the FS preventive measures as actions taken at the stem level, and (ii) the FSS interventions as actions taken at the root level, to enhance the impact of the implemented safety steps. In practice, along with FS, FSS also draws its support from (i) legislative directives and regulatory measures for enforcing verifiable, timely, and effective compliance; (ii) measurement systems in place for sustained quality assurance; and (iii) shared responsibility to ensure cohesion among all the stakeholders namely, policy makers, regulators, food producers, processors and distributors, and consumers. However, the functional framework of FSS differs from that of FS by way of: (i) retooling the vulnerable segments of the preventive features of existing FS measures; (ii) fine-tuning response systems to efficiently preempt the FS breaches; (iii) building a long-term nutrient and toxicant surveillance network based on validated measurement systems functioning in real time; (iv) focusing on crisp, clear, and correct communication that resonates among all the stakeholders; and (v) developing inter-disciplinary human resources to meet ever-increasing FS challenges. Important determinants of FSS include: (i) strengthening international dialogue for refining regulatory reforms and addressing emerging risks; (ii) developing innovative and strategic action points for intervention {in addition to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedures]; and (iii) introducing additional science-based tools such as metrology-based measurement systems.

Pengaruh Lintas Budaya Pada Pemasaran Internasional Dengan Pendekatan Perilaku Konsumen

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-176
Author(s):  
Endy Gunanto ◽  
Yenni Kurnia Gusti
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
Marketing Strategy ◽  
Consumer Culture ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Several Variables ◽  
Cultural Orientations ◽  
The Impact

In this article we present a conceptual of the effect of cross culture on consumer behavior incorporating the impact of globalization. This conceptual idea shows that culture inûuences various domains of consumer behavior directly as well as through international organization to implement marketing strategy. The conceptual identify several factors such as norm and value in the community, several variables and also depicts the impact of other environmental factors and marketing strategy elements on consumer behavior. We also identify categories of consumer culture orientation resulting from globalization. Highlights of each of the several other articles included in this special issue in Asia region. We conclude with the contributions of the articles in terms of the consumer cultural orientations and identify directions for future research.

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