Produce Safety Resources

The resources on this page are intended to advance your understanding of food safety for produce in child nutrition operations.  School Nutrition professionals with particular interest in this topic are encouraged to sign up through their State Agencies to attend Produce Safety University, a week-long immersion course offered by USDA.

Fresh produce provides many nutritional benefits, but it must be handled safely to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Harmful bacteria residing in soil or water may come into contact with fresh produce at any point during the plant’s growth, harvest, processing, transportation, storage, preparation, or service.  Fresh produce that is served raw does not go through a cooking step to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present before it is served to students, and, therefore has the potential to cause a foodborne illness.

Produce Safety Fact Sheets

Commodity Specific Fact Sheets

TitleDate modifiedDownload
ApplesApril 18, 2018 Download
BananasApril 18, 2018 Download
BroccoliApril 18, 2018 Download
CantaloupeApril 18, 2018 Download
CarrotsApril 18, 2018 Download
GrapesApril 18, 2018 Download
LettuceApril 18, 2018 Download
OrangesApril 18, 2018 Download
SquashApril 18, 2018 Download
StrawberriesApril 18, 2018 Download
TomatoesApril 18, 2018 Download
WatermelonApril 18, 2018 Download

Produce Safety Videos

The Produce Lab Videos - Culinary Techniques

TitleDate modifiedDownload
Apples and PearsApril 20, 2018 Download
Bananas Grapes and KiwifruitApril 20, 2018 Download
BroccoliApril 20, 2018 Download
CarrotsApril 20, 2018 Download
Cucumbers and Summer SquashApril 20, 2018 Download
Leafy GreensApril 20, 2018 Download
MelonsApril 20, 2018 Download
Onions and PeppersApril 20, 2018 Download
Oranges and StrawberriesApril 20, 2018 Download
Potatoes and Sweet PotatoesApril 20, 2018 Download
TomatoesApril 20, 2018 Download

The Produce Lab Videos - Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS)

TitleDate addedDownload
Culinary Arts and Great Kids FarmApril 20, 2018 Download
GAPS - Compost and Manure UseApril 20, 2018 Download
GAPS - Introduction, Soil and WaterApril 20, 2018 Download
GAPS - MaterialsApril 20, 2018 Download
GAPS - Pesticide and Herbicide UseApril 20, 2018 Download
GAPS - Safe Harvest GuidelinesApril 20, 2018 Download
Introduction to Great Kids FarmApril 20, 2018 Download
VermicultureApril 20, 2018 Download

The Produce Lab Videos - Quality and Condition

TitleDate modifiedDownload
IntroductionSeptember 21, 2018 Download
ApplesSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Banannas Grapes and KiwifruitApril 20, 2018 Download
Broccoli and CarrotsSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Cucumbers and Summer SquashSeptember 21, 2018 Download
LettucesSeptember 21, 2018 Download
MelonsSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Onions and PeppersSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Oranges and StrawberriesSeptember 21, 2018 Download
PearsSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Potatoes and Sweet PotatoesSeptember 21, 2018 Download
Pre-cut Salad Mixes and SpinachSeptember 21, 2018 Download
TomatoesSeptember 21, 2018 Download

Produce Safety Videos - What Went Right and What Went Wrong

TitleDate modifiedDownload
Receiving Fresh Produce VideoApril 24, 2018 Download
Storing Fresh Produce VideoApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – ReceivingApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Storing ProduceApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Preparing Produce 1April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Preparing Produce 2April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Preparing Produce 3April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Serving Produce 1April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Serving Produce 2April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Serving Produce 3April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Videos – Serving Produce 4April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Video ActivityApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Right? Video Activity Answer KeyApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos – Disgruntled EmployeeApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos – Food DefenseApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Receiving ProduceApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Storing ProduceApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Preparing Produce 1April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Preparing Produce 2April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Preparing Produce 3April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Serving Produce 1April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Serving Produce 2April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Serving Produce 3April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Videos - Serving Produce 4April 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Video ActivityApril 24, 2018 Download
What Went Wrong? Video Activity Answer KeyApril 24, 2018 Download

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