Safe Wisconsin Produce

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​News & Updates​​​

Fruit and vegetable grower feedback needed on produce safety costs, needs and barries
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) and personnel from the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS)​ at the University of Vermont would like to understand the costs and barriers of beginning or expanding food safety practices on farms and in packinghouses to make educational materials more relevant to fruit and vegetable growers and packers. To do this, they have developed a survey to collect food safety information from growers across the country. Please take the survey by May 1.

Wisconsin Women in Conservation Educator conference on April 28
Join WiWiC for the Educator Network Conference 2023: Lighting the Fire with Women Landowners. The conference will be held Friday, April 28, at Sentry World in Stevens Point. The gathering brings together conservation educators from across the state to connect, network and empower women. RSVP for the event​.

New Farmer U coming to Rosholt on March 31
Boost your farm business skills at New Farmer U from March 31-April 1 in Rosholt at the Wisconsin Lions Club. New Farmer U covers farm financial and business management for intermediate beginning farmers or anyone who is ready to plan for future success. Space is limited, and the cost is $50. New Farmer U offers scholarships that cover $35 of the $50 admission fee for either a full-day Friday course or the Saturday workshops. Register here by March 17​, or apply for a scholarship.​

FDA issues reminder of end of intended enforcement discretion period for harvest and post-harvest agricultural water
The FDA released a fact sheet and constituent update to remind produce stakeholders of the upcoming end of the intended enforcement discretion period for the ha​rvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule for covered produce other than sprouts. For large covered farms, this period will end on January 26, 2023. Learn more.​

Free classes and training​s on well water​​
The University of Illinois Urbana is providing free classes and trainings on well water. To learn more about these opportunities​, visit privatewellclass.org.​

Update on FSMA proposed rule for food traceability
The FDA met its obligation to send the FSMA Final Rule: Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods to the Office of the Federal ​Register (OFR) by Nov. 7, 2022​. Publication is managed by the OFR and the FDA anticipates publication within one or two weeks after submission. Learn more, and use the Exemptions to the Food Traceability Rule tool to find whether your farm is fully or partially exempt.

DATCP announces plans for Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program​
DATCP has signed a cooperative agreement with USDA to create the Wisconsin Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. This program aims to strengthen local and regional food systems; support underserved, small Wisconsin farmers; and distribute fresh, nutritious foods to underserved communities. Learn more​.​​​

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Take the 2023​ 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

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Krystal M​artin
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.

 

​J​oanna 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. ​
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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.​


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.​


​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. ​
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FAQs

What is the Food Safety Modernization Act?

What is ​the Produce Safety Rule?​

Is your farm covered by the PSR?

Resources