Keeping records of all farm operations is very important,
especially when it comes to food safety.
With today’s complex food system, fresh produce
rarely moves directly from the grower to the consumer,
but often is handled many times before it
reaches the market or is consumed. When
foodborne illness outbreaks occur, attempts are
made to trace the contamination back to the point
of origin. Documenting any manure use, water test
results, and worker training programs may provide
important data that indicates the
contamination did not occur on the farm. Good
records facilitate ease of auditing by buyers and
regulatory agencies, and help prevent the need
for formal regulations. Documentation also highlights
a grower’s commitment to reduc