Before Planting
Follow these GAPs before planting produce to
avoid contaminating the crop:
• Assess the likelihood that the produce will be
thoroughly cooked before being eaten. If it
will not be cooked, then preventing on-farm
contamination from pathogens is especially
important.
• Locate production sites uphill, upstream, and
upwind from areas where manure is stored or
animals are grazed or housed.
• Assess the potential of nearby feedlots, animal
pastures, or livestock farms to contaminate your
produce fields.
• Avoid fields that regularly flood or are exposed
to excessive runoff.
• Store manure away from growing and handling
areas, and store it in a manner that prevents
runoff and wind drift.
• If you use manure or other animal products
(such as blood meal, bone meal, feather meal) as
soil amendments, reduce the contamination risk
by following one or more of these practices:
- A pply the soil amendment long before
harvest, preferably when soils are
warm (>50o
F) and nonsaturated. We
recommend applying untreated manure
at least nine months before harvesting
produce, ideally to a cover or agronomic
crop. Specific audit or certification
programs may require longer or shorter
periods between application and harvest
(for example, the USDA National
Organic Program requires only 120 days
for many crops).
- Incorporate the amendment if possible.
- Apply soil amendments so they don’t
contact the produce.
- Compost the amendment before applying
• Do not apply manure or animal products during
crop production unless properly composted or
treated (see above).
• If you use well water for irrigation or sprays, test
it for generic E. coli before the growing season,
and continue to test it quarterly. Keep records of
tests and results.
• If you use surface water for irrigation or sprays,
use drip or furrow irrigation to minimize
contact with produce. Avoid using surface water
for overhead irrigation or sprays unless it is
documented to have a low risk of contamination.
Test water sources for generic E. coli before using
each season and regularly during the season.
Keep records of tests and results.
• Provide and maintain an adequate number of
toilet and hand-washing facilities for workers.
Facilities should have toilet paper, running water,
soap, single-use towels, and waste bins.
• Use only EPA-approved pesticides and follow all
label instructions.
• Do not harvest damaged, diseased, or visibly
contaminated produce.
• Keep records of cleaning, sanitizing and
maintenance.