DATCP Home Safe Wisconsin Produce

Safe Wisconsin Produce

News & Updates

DATCP Accepting Nominations for Produce Safety Advisory Council Seats

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting nominations for the Produce Safety Advisory Council (PSAC). Available seats may represent any of the following categories: fresh fruit and vegetable production; produce processing, marketing, and retailing; consumer advocacy groups; non-profit educational institutions; Tribal nations; and underserved communities. To read the full press release, click here.

FDA Releases Standards Relating to the Agricultural Water Final Rule

FDA recently released standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption relating to the Agricultural Water Final Rule issued under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The final rule replaces specific pre-harvest agricultural water requirements stated in the 2015 Produce Safety Rule. The update includes requirements for system-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide suitable measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. Please see fact sheet and/or flow chart for more information.

Food Safety Podcast

The Food Safety Dish podcast has now been released. This podcast covers all things food safety, brought to you by National Farmers Union's Local Food Safety Collaborative. They talk with farmer and expert voices on their subject specialties: sharing practical advice, wisdom, and how to incorporate good food safety practices into your own growing operation.

For more information: The Food Safety Dish.

DATCP Reminds Farmers to Check Runoff Risk Prior to Spreading Manure

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding farmers and manure applicators to check the runoff risk advisory forecast before spreading manure on fields. This tool helps determine the potential for manure runoff from a field depending on weather conditions and soil temperature.

To learn more, read the press release.

North Central Regional Buyers Handbook Press Release and Fact Sheet

Just published! The Produce Safety Handbook for Buyers is an online guide for produce buyers that clarifies the complex landscape of food safety regulations and standards across states. This tool helps buyers navigate each state's produce safety audit and inspection information through an interactive glossary of terms, charts, and tables.

Take the 2024 Produce Questionnaire and Registry

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 sanitaria n, 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.
Jill Cholewa Produce Outreach Specialist	Jill's passion for nutrition and education began at a young age. With a background in dairy farming, she has been obsessed with where our food comes from, how it's grown, and always seeks to learn ways improve food safety and the quality of food. Her role involves identifying and implementing appropriate outreach strategies and methods to educate Wisconsin produce growers, businesses and consumers. Jill has more than 10 years of experience in community outreach and education, and she has a talent for bridging people and places, and in developing partnerships. Jill is excited to join the SWP team and to again work within the agriculture industry. Outside of work, she is an adventurous traveler, avid hiker and spends her available free time entertaining her "fur kids." Jill earned a Ph. D. from the University of Kentucky, where she also received a bachelor's degree in human nutrition and food science
Lisa Wipfli Environmental Health Sanitarian	Lisa is a proud Wisconsinite. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and has lived in different regions of the state. Lisa has discovered many reasons to appreciate each place she has lived but overwhelmingly, the fantastic people is really what makes Wisconsin so great. Lisa appreciates the amazing entrepreneurial spirit of Wisconsinites, and she focuses on supporting that spirit by buying local. Lisa's favorite part of her work is the opportunity to work with and learn from the produce farming community and she finds it invigorating to interact with such amazing people. Lisa appreciates the opportunity she has been given to learn something new every day with the goal of making a difference and helping others continue to provide safe produce. On her days off, Lisa enjoys doing anything outdoors, including walking, gardening, reading, attending concerts, fishing, and landscaping. On rainy days, she likes hanging out in the kitchen, experimenting with a new recipe, and baking desserts. What Lisa loves most of all is spending time with her family and treasures every minute they are together! Lisa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and Public Health from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and MBA from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.