Let’s talk about reuse on the farm. Using (and reusing) what you’ve got is a great mentality on any successful farm. It’s important to be able to solve problems using the resources at hand. So let’s take that mentality and add a food safety lens to it!
I COULD reuse these paper pints…
…But would you? And, more importantly, should you? Paper containers, like those popular pulp boxes you pack your berries into, are fairly sturdy, so long as they don’t get wet. And considering the berries/cherry tomatoes/snap peas are only in them for such a short time, the appeal of reusing these is real. But can you clean it??? No, not very easily. And they are impossible to sanitize. Paper products like these berry boxes are hard to keep sanitary and should be considered a single-use product, especially for fresh fruits and vegetables.
We can apply this food safety lens to most food-contact surfaces on the farm. Consider waxed cardboard produce boxes: the wax lends some water resistance to the cardboard and makes it easier to wipe clean. We still can’t sanitize a fibrous surface like this, but it is certainly a rung above the pulp boxes on the food safety ladder. I would recommend reusing these with caution and with extra attention to their sanitary quality. When it looks or feels dirty, recycle it.
How about plastic materials? Plastic food-contact surfaces, such as harvest bins, tables, and other equipment, can usually be cleaned and sanitized without much issue. Sometimes, because plastic is softer than, say, steel, these items can become scratched and gouged, leading to bacterial harborage points that can be tricky to clean. When an item becomes too hard to clean or is in poor condition, it is time to replace it.
Other plastic materials, such as produce packaging, are made of a smooth, non-porous, cleanable material, exactly what we like to see for hygienic design! However, reusing these items will depend on your farm’s capacity to adequately clean and sanitize them between uses. If we wish to balance food safety with sustainability, we can explore other choices, such as compostable plastics or paper packaging. While these options are not reusable from a food safety standpoint, they are a more environmentally friendly alternative to single-use plastic.
Let’s shift our focus to another category of farm products: cleaning tools! Are your cleaning tools really cleaning, or are they spreading germs around? My favorite example is sponges. Sponges are easy to use, do a good job of scrubbing off dirt and grime, and can get into many hard-to-reach places. Their biggest downfall, however, is that they are porous. Bacteria thrive in moist places, and a sponge that is allowed to stay wet for too long is the perfect breeding ground for many bacteria. Traditional sponges are not easily cleaned, but replacing them after each use also feels a bit wasteful.
So what’s an eco-conscious, food-safe farmer to do?
When the food safety police say no, we can explore our options. As always, we are looking for alternative practices and/or materials that will move us up the ladder of food safety.
In the instance of sponges, it is easy to make small adjustments for better food safety. We can swap out traditional sponges for fabric, machine-washable ones (with a system in place for regular laundering!). Or, we could opt for easier-to-clean silicone sponges. We could even go a step further and switch to scrub brushes that are designed to be cleanable, such as the kinds with plastic or silicone bristles. Each of these alternatives will have a longer lifespan than traditional sponges on the farm, though will still need to be monitored for their sanitary condition and replaced as needed.
Bottom Line?
When we prioritize hygienic design when selecting the materials we use on-farm, we put ourselves in the best position to keep our produce safe and clean while also showing our customers our commitment to environmental sustainability. Here are some key things to remember:
If you can’t clean it, you probably shouldn’t reuse it.
Invest in high-quality, durable materials that can be cleaned and sanitized repeatedly to increase your farm's reuse potential.
Choose the right tools for the job to make cleaning and sanitizing easier and more efficient.
Want to learn more?
Michigan Produce Safety Technicians are ready to help you meet your on-farm produce safety goals. We will work with you to identify, manage, and minimize risks to food safety on your farm, and help you create a comprehensive food safety plan to prepare you for a MI Produce Safety Risk Assessment Certificate. Working with produce safety technicians is always free and confidential, and there is no cost to applying for the certificate. Click here to get started.
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Article by Landen Tetil, Produce Safety Technician