Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/717894
www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower SEPTEMBER 2016 45 the apples stored at room temperature, enabling Listeria growth. "We need to ask the question: What can happen to our product to convert it into food that now poses a high risk for Listeriosis?" said, Martin Wiedmann, a food safety professor at Cornell University. "You cannot rely on the con- sumer. You need to understand what the consumer can do with your product. I challenge all of you in the industry to start to think that way, because I think it's very important." —Awareness and training are vital. Growers and packing houses can't simply wait for the next outbreak. They must raise awareness, communicate with employees and offer training work- shops now to prevent future outbreaks, said Ines Hanrahan, project manager for the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. "You can change human behavior, and if you change that, you have won half the battle," she said. These efforts require management buy-in, bigger cleaning crews with a motivated crew leader — all of whom love what they're doing and recognize it's not just a job — and more time devoted to cleaning and sanitation with a master schedule, she said. A reward system, monetary or otherwise, such as pizza parties for work crews, can also boost performance. "It's really about trying to understand what it is we're trying to accomplish, what is personally at stake for them," she said. "If a worker understands how it relates to his family, how an outbreak could affect his family and their health, it makes a difference. And it makes them feel appre- ciated and like they're not forgotten." —Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. The 2015 outbreak resulted in lost industry sales of $15 million, canceled promotional events and a sea change in thinking about export risk, said Mark Powers, executive vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council. Seven countries took actions related to the outbreak, and two, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, stopped trade altogether. Many of the actions fell on products that were not a safety concern, largely due to misunder- standing of the facts, Powers said. Federal regulators, foreign embassy personnel and industry associations need to be on the same page in the event of an outbreak, sharing the same message, he said, to avoid a crisis. Bidart Brothers shipped its apples months before packers in the Pacific Northwest shipped theirs, Powers said, yet the effects were felt by everyone. "The product was out of the market. The response was off the charts, out of reality, but it was real, and the concerns were real," Powers said. • WE KNOW TRELLIS! Oregon & Washington's FIrst Choice for Quality Trellis Supplies! • Domestically manufactured premium wood and steel posts • In-stock inventory with convenient delivery • Quick turnaround on project orders • Variety of wire options • Cross arms, stakes, anchors, tensioners, clips, grow tubes and milk cartons • Wind screen, landscape fabric and shade cloth Proudly offering the highest quality trellis supplies and customer service in Oregon & Washington for over 30 years! (800) 653-2216 • www.ovs.com ML910-21-129843-10 100% Employee Owned & Operated Convenient Oregon & Washington Locations Aurora - McMinnville - Medford - Salem, OR Lynden - Pasco, WA Quick and economical, this long- lasting dripline holder can be installed in seconds. The built-in saddle prevents water flow restric- tion. Available in 1/2" and 7/8" sizes. Patent No. 4,615,140 AgLok is a universal agricultural fastener designed for your vineyard and orchard tying and training needs. The AgLok comes in 11.5" strips, 150' belt-mounted boxes, and 500' spools. DRIPLOK™ AGLOK™ Toll-Free: 877-552-4828 909-464-1373 • Fax: 909-464-1603 http://www.agfast.com For your nearest dealer, contact: DripLok and AgLok ad.qxp_Layout 1 1/7/16 5:12 PM Page 1