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Listeria - Why is it Not Going Away? - Part II

Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program

June 19, 2017

Listeria - Why is it Not Going Away ? - Part I
Craig Kahlke

For Part I - please see FN volume 16, Issue 14 (June 22, 2016) or click here: https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=427&crumb=food_safety|food_safety

To summarize part I, two deadly Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) outbreaks were covered, that hospitalized a combined 182 people, with 40 deaths. For the first time, a foodborne illness was associated with fresh apples in the Bidart Brothers outbreak. Better technology has allowed increased detection of Listeria spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and other pathogens that cause foodborne illness in fresh produce. The number of recalls (positive results of the previous pathogens) has increased, but the number of outbreaks and individual illnesses has not increased. Sanitation to reduce risk of these pathogens in the field is difficult. There are some practices at the farm level to reduce the likelihood of Lm; however, the focus needs to be in the packinghouse. There is a great need for equipment that can be easily cleaned, sanitized, and allowed to dry at the end of each day. What is available in the marketplace today is still lacking, but newer packing lines and packing equipment available today are beginning to utilize principles of sanitary design, in which the equipment is constructed with materials that are more resistant to microbial growth and designed in a manner that facilitates easy cleaning and sanitizing.
Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Annual Symposium

There is a lot of research happening in the US to address the big questions regarding Lm and other pathogens that are causing foodborne illness in fresh produce. Since my article in mid-June, the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) had its annual symposium, summarizing funded applied research projects in all aspects of foodborne contamination on fresh produce. The two-day conference was kicked off with a large panel session: A Case Study - Part I: Lm Outbreak and Caramel Apples; Part II: Lm, Caramel Apples and What We Learned. The panelists dissected the outbreak from a scientific and public health perspective. Panelists included representatives of the CA Dept. of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, several university scientists, USDA, and the Northwest Hort Council. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was introduced as a tool in the epidemiological traceback, and found that Listeria was still present, even months later when the environment in the packinghouse was dry and completely free of water. This upended some of the conventional thinking about Listeria and its ability to survive in dry environments.

Research was presented that demonstrated the potential for Lm growth in caramelized apples. Observations from the production facility investigation were shared. There were very large failures in communication between industry and regulatory agencies and between the U.S. and export partners and the role that social media played were examined. While Bidart Brothers were a small packinghouse that did not export apples - word got out from the outbreak and exports from WA to Asia were halted, needlessly costing the industry millions.

Most importantly, the actions of the apple industry in the Pacific Northwest subsequent to the outbreak were highlighted. The industry moved quickly to provide education and training to apple producers about Lm and focused on equipment and facility sanitation. It is important to evaluate equipment and sanitation practices to insure that cleaning and sanitation is effective, and Lm is not permitted to become resident. It is also important to understand how produce is being used in the manufacturing of other products (such as caramel apples, apples slices etc.) and what impact that might have on its safety. Lastly, being prepared for a food safety event is imperative. Having proper lines of communication within your company, with other groups in your commodity, with the regulatory agencies and even at a country-to-country level are keys to insuring negative consequences of a potential outbreak are minimized. This has a critical and direct impact concerning the number of people sickened and the ability to keep false information from damaging a large proportion of the industry.

While GAPs training has been widely accepted among fresh apple producers, the focus has now shifted to Lm control, training, cleaning and sanitation in packinghouses as well as the use of guidance documents for tree fruit operations and the set up of effective environmental monitoring programs. In addition, industry has been working with academia to determine preventive measures and potential food safety risks. The University of Wisconsin, UC Davis, Cornell University and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) shared the results of research conducted in apple operations to understand how the outbreak occurred, how a facility can be vulnerable to contamination, and the need to implement practices that address the minimization of situations where Listeria can be widely distributed in an operation.

Ines Hanrahan in NY
The NY commercial apple industry was very fortunate to have Dr. Ines Hanrahan of the WTFRC speak to us at the Empire Producers Expo in Syracuse this past January. Ines gave two similar food safety presentations to two groups at the Expo- a farm food safety plan writing group, and at a tree fruit session. A pdf of her slide sets (combined from her 2 talks) are found on the Expo proceedings website here: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/expo/proceedings/2017/TreeFruitHort.Orchard%20management%20to%20restrict%20foodborn%20pathogen.pdf To quickly summarize highlights of the restricting foodborne pathogens portion, Ines explained how the Washington tree fruit industry responded quickly with out-of-cycle funding to work with a diverse committee to investigate the causes of Listeria contamination on commercial storage and packing facilities of apples and how to best implement a prevention plan. Her talk covered three main topics: the approach to food safety before an outbreak, an approach after an outbreak, and key learnings.

Food Safety Before an Outbreak
The Northwest Hort Council (NHC) formed a food safety committee in 2007. In addition, the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) allocated research dollars because a partnership was formed with WTFRC. The Washington State Tree Fruit Association provided GAPs trainings, and the WTFRC worked with all of the groups to coordinate efforts. A thorough review was performed to make sure all 3rd-party private food safety audits were being met at the orchard and packinghouse level. Research was conducted to look at the potential for bacterial contamination on fruit with agricultural water put on close to harvest as irrigation or in crop protectant sprays. In addition, research was performed looking at reducing potential bacterial growth and cross-contamination in the postharvest environment. The goal was to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for packinghouses, including the lines, dumptanks, spray bars, and drying areas, and bin sanitation. The key message here continues to be the need to be proactive.

Food Safety After an Outbreak
The NHC Food Safety Committee designated a sub-committee for Listeria. They identified priorities and had focuses on Lm at their previous two annual meetings. Industry organizations worked together towards a common goal - everyone loses if there is an outbreak. Additional funding was provided by the WTFRC to address these issues. The Listeria sub-committee prioritized the identification of training needs, research needs, and the production of guidance documents.
Combining the needs for guidance documents, training, and the incorporation of current research produced cleaning and sanitation workshops for the WA tree fruit industry. The workshops are called "Putting Principles into Practice, A Hands-On Workshop for Sanitation Supervisors and Packing Line Managers". For the first time ever, doors were opened to packinghouses and competitors were invited. The workshops begin with an overview of Listeria risk and the importance of cleaning and sanitation, and then continued with hands-on demonstrations of effective cleaning and sanitation practices. The hands-on includes identifying areas of risk within your facility, how to handle challenging areas, including drains and the proper use of cleaning equipment and products. The workshop concludes with strategies for successful implementation. An advanced version of these workshops was later organized to train tree fruit industry food safety specialists on environmental monitoring techniques to verify the efficacy of cleaning and sanitation practices in the packinghouse. This workshop also incorporated classroom and hands-on education. Topics covered during the classroom presentations included the importance of environmental monitoring (EM), current EM techniques used, facility mapping and hygienic zoning.

Key impacts of all workshops to date include, but are not limited to: increased communication between competing organizations (facilities opened doors to direct competitors to share their processes and expertise), active collaboration between industry members (coffee/discussion groups were formed to exchange ideas), expanded research programs, strengthened industry cooperation with food safety research, involvement of the tree fruit industry in food safety meetings and forums (including other industries), and creation of Listeria-specific food safety committees.


In Western NY packinghouses, we will have one or more similar cleaning and sanitation workshops this spring. If you are willing to open up your facility to other competitors for the safety of the industry, please contact Craig. We can discuss prior any questions, problems, or concerns you may have. In addition, I would like to visit each packinghouse individually for a consultation and would be willing to work on a facility-by-facility basis with you to perform similar workshops if time allows. Stay tuned to LOFP for updates.


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Apples

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Asian Pears

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Currants

Currants

Gooseberries

Gooseberries

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Nectarines

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Plums

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Raspberries / Blackberries

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Upcoming Events

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course Yates County

December 18, 2024
Penn Yan, NY

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety as well as growers who are covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule or who anticipate being covered in the future should consider taking this course.

The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in ยง 112.22(c) that requires 'At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.'

View Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course Yates County Details

From Seed to Success: Turn Your Idea into an Actionable Plan

January 7, 2025 : Session 1: The 30,000-foot view, what are you trying to accomplish? What resources do you have?

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 1: The 30,000-foot view, what are you trying to accomplish? What resources do you have?

January 14, 2025 : Session 2: Introduction to Project Management

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 2: Introduction to Project Management

January 21, 2025 : Session 3: How Business Planning Becomes a Business Plan

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 3: How Business Planning Becomes a Business Plan

January 28, 2025 : Session 4: Your Market and Your Competition

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

 Session 4: Your Market and Your Competition


February 4, 2025 : Session 5: Revenue and Product Mix to Achieve Your Goals

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

  • Session 5:  Revenue and Product Mix to Achieve Your Goals

February 11, 2025 : Session 6: Marketing Plan and Evaluation of Marketing Efforts

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

  • Session 6: Marketing Plan and Evaluation of Marketing Efforts

February 18, 2025 : Session 7: The Basics of Financial Statements

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 7: The Basics of Financial Statements


February 25, 2025 : Session 8: Enhancing Confidence in Your Numbers

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 8: Enhancing Confidence in Your Numbers



March 4, 2025 : Session 9: Using Financial Statements and Financial Information to Plan and Evaluate an Enterprise

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 9: Using Financial Statements and Financial Information to Plan and Evaluate an Enterprise
View From Seed to Success: Turn Your Idea into an Actionable Plan Details

Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops

January 14, 2025

Join us for a free webinar on electric weeding in organic perennial crops.

View Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops Details

Announcements

Fire blight management survey

Understanding your perspective on fire blight management systems.

Your input on fire blight management systems is crucial for guiding future research efforts - please help us out by completing a quick survey at https://opinion.wsu.edu/AppleManagement/

Hearing your views and experience from the field will be very valuable in making our research and recommendations realistic and actionable. PLUS you will receive an electronic gift card for $25. The survey will only take 20 min of your time.

Your opinions are important to us, even if you did not have issues with fire blight control and antibiotic resistance in your orchard.


Business Updates



Save the Date! - Scroll down for Upcoming Events

Have you missed a meeting recently? Scroll down for available recordings or pdf links or visits our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

2024 Events:

6 Dec - Lake Ontario Fruit Program Advisory Committee Meeting - 10am -2pm, Gates Public Library, register now 

11 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII - Hudson Valley Community College, $75, Register Now

13 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII - Jordan Hall, Cornell AgriTech, $75, Register Now

17 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII additional topics - Webinar, 12pm - 2pm, $75, Register now

18 Dec - Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course Yates County - 8am-5pm, Penn Yan

18 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII additional topics - Webinar, 12pm - 2pm,  $75, Register now

2025 Events:

7 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 1  - Webinar

14 Jan - Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops - Webinar, 2pm

14 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 2 - Webinar

16 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

17 Jan - 27 Feb - Ag Supervisory Leadership Course 104 - Register Now

21 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 3 - Webinar

23 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

28 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 4 - Webinar

30 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

Feb 4-5, 2025 - Western NY Fruit Conference - DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Rochester

4 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 5 - Webinar

11 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 6 - Webinar

13 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

18 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 7 - Webinar

20 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

25 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 8 - Webinar

27 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

4 Mar - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 9 - Webinar

7 & 8 May - 2025 Respirator Fit Testing Clinics - CCE Orleans


Webinar Recordings & Additional Meeting Materials

Check out the recordings of some recent webinars and/or conference materials from in person events: Recordings and Playlists are available at https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

Recording of Precision Apple Cropload MANagement PACMAN technologies at the 2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour. https://youtu.be/yE6thvf4z0E

2024 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series - Water Wisdom: 
1/4 - Trends In Water Availability
2/4 - The Role of Water In Tree Fruit Physiology & Quality
3/4 - Smart Watering: Practices for Irrigation Management
4/4 - Water Wisdom Unplugged


2024 8-12 mm Thinning Meeting

2024 Capital Region & Western NY Petal Fall Thinning Meeting

2024 Statewide Pink Meeting

2024 Cornell Statewide Frost Protection Webinar

2024 Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the NYS IPM Program YouTube Channel

2nd Annual Lake Ontario Fruit Program's Winter Fruit Conference - 2024 pdfs

PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:
Developers Conference for Precision Crop Load Management of Apples Playlist - 2024
PACMAN Briefing - 2023








Scaffolds podcast

Many of you probably read Art Agnello's statewide tree fruit updates and recommendations newsletter, "Scaffolds". Dr. Monique Rivera is bringing it back, but in a new audio version. Episode one was recorded this week, and is now available for free online at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scaffolds


NYS Tree Decline Survey

Your answers could help find the solution to tree decline in the orchard.
NYS Tree Decline Survey


Food Safety Virtual Office Hours

Cornell Institute of Food Safety "Virtual Office Hours", Tuesdays Noon to 1pm https://cals.cornell.edu/institute-for-food-safety/resources/virtual-office-hours

Past recorded virtual office hours can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJs5b7KUuvfcquH3ZtQHo5dSmF2m5MdQ


Pollinator Resouces

Now available Pollinator Resource Links


Meeting Recordings Now Available

Did you miss the recent meeting?  Check and see if we recorded it and added it to our website or Lake Ontario Fruit Program YouTube Channel.

Honeycrisp Meetup recordings available here.

Why are my trees growing so poorly? recording available here.

Additional Recorded Webinars listing with recording and resource link are available at
https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=838&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38



New Publication on Growing Pawpaws

Are you a fan of pawpaws? These custardy fruits can be hard to come across, so this guide provides information on how to grow your own pawpaw from seed, and how to care for grafted seedlings. Pdf on growing now available.​ https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=799&crumb=crops|crops|unusual_fruit|crop*50

New Weed Management Technology Survey

Want to move away from herbicide reliance? Are you using novel technologies to manage weeds? We want to know about it to inform our weed science research. A team of weed scientists from University of California Davis, Oregon State University, and Cornell University are asking berry, tree fruit, tree nut, and vine crop growers to take 5 to 10 minutes and answer this short and anonymous survey. Weed Technology Survey link: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEpfAijoP7puQDP

For more information on this survey please visit http://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2020/12/02/new-weed-management-technology/


Pollinator Webinar Series - Summer 2020

The Pollinator Webinar Series presented by Penn State cover bee health and pollination services.



Bloom Pesticides for Pollinator Health

A reference table created by Janet van Zoeren and Anna Wallis, is now available at https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=711&crumb=pests|pests.

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