In Zavala County, Texas, Ed and Paige Ritchie of Tiro Tres Farms implement a detailed coding system to document production practices for their spinach and other leafy greens, aiming to ensure a traceable and safe food supply.
The farm, specializing in baby leaf, teen leaf, and Savoy spinach, faces the complexities of adhering to increasing food safety regulations. The Ritchies, with Paige serving as the Food Safety Quality Assurance manager, conduct numerous audits annually, including pre-harvest and water sample testing for contaminants such as E. Coli, salmonella, and STEC. These stringent measures are in response to both governmental and customer-specific food safety standards, which have evolved beyond the basic USDA regulations to include unique requirements from grocery stores and fast-food chains.
The process of compliance is resource-intensive, involving environmental testing and the potential destruction of crops that test positive for pathogens, even if subsequent tests are negative. The necessity for rapid testing and the short window between test clearance and harvest further complicate their operations. Paige Ritchie, who took on her role in food safety management after graduating from Texas A&M University in 2014, now oversees the farm's compliance efforts full-time, highlighting the significant impact of regulatory demands on family-run agricultural businesses.
Source: farmprogress.com