SYMPOSIUM D3: Coordinated Management of Water Quality Protection and Food Safety Practices in Cool Season Vegetable Production

Date: February 4, 2008

Location: Ponderosa A

Time: 1:00pm to 5:00 pm

Other sessions to attend? Bring-your-lunch to an informal discussion 12:30 – 1:00pm

Abstract: Efforts to exclude human pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 from farms growing irrigated lettuce and leafy vegetables on California’s Central Coast are conflicting with traditionally accepted strategies to protect surface water quality. Co-managing food safety and water quality requires reliable information on the impact of crop management and water quality practices on pathogen transport and survival. In the face of uncertainty many produce buyers have adopted private standards, delivered through suppliers of third party certification services in addition to recently intensified industry guidelines. This session seeks to facilitate national discussion of these emerging issues.

Overview of regulatory environment at state and Mary Bianchi

national level UC Cooperative Extension

TMDLs and Ag Waivers - Implications for on-farm Kay Mercer

water quality management SLO/SB Ag Watershed Coalition

Industry responses and requirements to food safety Hank Giclas

and environmental concerns; California Leafy Green Western Growers Association

Marketing Agreement and Metrics Requirements;

Buyer-specific Recommendations and Requirements

Third party certification systems - Auditor training, Devon Zagory

standards and competency Center for Produce Safety

UC Davis

Current partnerships for coordinated management Rob Atwill

research, outreach, and funding and over-sight Western Institute for Food Safety & Security UC Davis

Progress in Coordinated Management - Research David Crohn

priorities, critical short and long term needs Environmental Sciences UCR

and the HACCP approach

Research Updates, Direction and Questions – Panel Trevor Suslow

Preliminary results of persistence and dispersal of E. coli Extension Food Safety

in cultivated soils and irrigated lettuce and efficacy of Specialist, UC Davis

microbiological aspects of water quality management

practices in irrigated lettuce

Indicator bacteria occurrence and/or concentration in Ken Tate

surface waters and their correlation with common pathogens Extension Rangeland

of concern; Simultaneous implementation of various Watershed Specialist, UC Davis

management practices for cumulative benefit

Joined by Devon Zagory, Hank Giclas, David Crohn at 3:45 for facilitated discussion