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Safe Wisconsin Produce

News & Updates

January 5, 2022: The FDA will hold two virtual public meetings to discuss proposed changes to agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule on February 14 from 12:45-8:45 p.m. (register here), and on February 25 from 9:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m. (register here). Registration is required to attend the virtual meetings. Participants will receive details on how and when to view the public meetings online. Contact Juanita Yates at juanita.yates@fda.hhs.gov with any questions. For more information, see the Federal Register notice or visit the meeting page.
January 5, 2022: The USDA's new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) will cover 75% of the registration fees (up to $200 per year) for educational events. Contact your local USDA Service Center or call (877) 508-8364 for more information on this program. The application period closes February 4.
January 4, 2022: Would you like to talk one-on-one with a Safe Wisconsin Produce team member about food safety on your farm? You can! The SWP team will be at the Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Conference January 23-25 in the Wisconsin Dells; the 2022 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show February 8-10 in Stevens Point; and the MOSES Organic Farming Conference February 24-26 in La Crosse. SWP team members will give presentations, provide material, and answer all of your questions about the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Produce Safety Rule, and ongoing DATCP programs to help Wisconsin produce growers improve their food safety efforts.
December 21, 2021: Two Produce Safety Alliance grower training classes have been announced. An in-person class is scheduled for January 12, 2022, in Westby, WI. Contact Safe Wisconsin Produce to register. The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is offering another class on January 20, 2022, as part of an organic certification, GAP and produce grower training remote-delivery course (class #21762).
December 20, 2021: FDA adds Spanish-translated material for agricultural water requirement changes. Agricultural water assessment fact sheet; expanded table on factors to be considered as part of agricultural water assessment.
November 1, 2021: Check out the Safe Wisconsin Produce 2021 Fall Newsletter.

Take the 2021 Growers Questionnaire

Through a cooperative agreement with the FDA, DATCP's Produce Safety Regulatory Program, or Safe Wisconsin Produce (SWP), has a primary goal of educating and promoting implementation of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) to diverse members of the Wisconsin agriculture community.

SWP has spent more than five years understanding the agricultural layout across the state and assessing the needs of produce growers, including education and technical support. SWP – along with partner organizations like Wisconsin Farmers Union and Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services – will continue to ensure the safe production of fresh fruit and vegetables by providing growers and buyers access to the resources they need. SWP also is responsible for enforcing the PSR through documented inspections, often occurring after formal training and On-Farm Readiness Reviews.

To provide these service to Wisconsin growers, the SWP team comprises individuals with strong backgrounds in agriculture and food, and a passion for the industry.

Meet the Team

Krystal Martin Environment Health Services Supervisor-Produce	Krystal's history of produce safety began shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a degree in environmental science. She spent more than a half-decade working on organic produce farms, ranging from CSA to wholesale to retail/market-based. She experienced the joys and hardships of farming firsthand – seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, washing and packing. She observed losses due to disease, above average yields, and everything in between. In 2016, Krystal transitioned to food safety. She worked as a manufactured foods sanitarian, strengthening her understanding of food safety factors while learning the “whys" behind regulation. In May 2021, Krystal transitioned to her current role where she oversees the work being done by the produce team in the field and behind the scenes. She is committed to aiding in the forward movement of Safe Wisconsin Produce so that it can continue to be a resource for years to come. If you can't find her at work or in her garden, she is likely chasing her toddler, swimming in the lake, with her head in a book, or covered in flour as she whips up a comfy fall recipe.
Joanna Kahvedjian Program and Policy Analyst	Joanna's position comes with a lot of variety, including: Developing and providing progress reports to leadership, analyzing processes and creating standard operating procedures, coordinating communications between DATCP and the Produce Safety Advisory Council, and maintaining the statewide farm inventory. This work involves close collaborations with other states, federal agencies and various partners. It also requires a constant focus on program efficiency and educating growers to make sure they are following sound safety practices to keep Wisconsin's fresh fruits and vegetables healthy and wholesome. Before joining DATCP, Joanna earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and built a wide range of experiences. Her professional career began in Jerusalem in the nonprofit sector in education. This is where she first tasted fresh figs, which have remained her favorite over the years. From there, she moved to a suburb of Washington, D.C., where she began organic food gardening, beekeeping and urban growing. She also co-owned and operated a wood-fired pizza business. In Madison, Joanna continues to grow fruits and vegetables and care for chickens, always pleasantly surprised at their productivity despite the short season. She also enjoys the outdoors, being active, and connecting with people.
Bridget Peck Food Scientist-Advance	Bridget's position has her out in the field on a regular basis, educating farmers and working with them during inspections. She also serves as one of the technical experts on the SWP team and assist with training opportunities. With a background in farming, she especially enjoys working with growers. Bridget's personal and professional backgrounds are both closely linked to food and food safety. Prior to working with produce at DATCP, she worked at the department as a meat safety inspector and spent years educating today's youth about agriculture.
Micheal Mosher Compliance and Outreach Specialist	Micheal was born and raised in Jefferson County, graduating from Lake Mills High School in 1980. After attending colleges in Madison and Milwaukee, he enlisted in the Army as a special operations airborne trooper, serving more than 24 months in combat before retiring after 23 years as a master sergeant. He continued working for the Army as a contractor in Afghanistan before accepting his position at DATCP in 2017. Having bought a small farm after retirement, Micheal is back in Jefferson County where he lives with his wife of more than 20 years and his two sons. Inspired by the hundreds of Wisconsin farmers he has met since joining DATCP, he grows his own produce on an acre of land to better appreciate the PSR and how it affects growers. He also raises chickens for eggs and maintains a small army of barn cats (nearly 30 at last count) for pest control. Micheal always appreciate the opportunity of working and learning with Wisconsin farmers.
Amanda Miller Inspector	Amanda has always had an intense love of plants that was fostered while growing up in central Wisconsin gardening with her mom and managing the family hunting land with her dad. She has degrees in both agronomy and environmental science, and she worked in seed corn production and research before transitioning to her first role at DATCP managing the field side of the Hemp Program. In that role, she enjoyed helping develop and implement a new program to serve both Wisconsin growers and consumers. Amanda is excited to bring her passion for crops and the ag community to the SWP team as an inspector for the southern half of Wisconsin. Outside of work you'll often find Amanda gardening, playing ultimate Frisbee, or hiking a recently discovered trail with her hammock and favorite book in hand.