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This copy of the 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations replaces all previous editions of the Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations published individually for Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Information presented in this publication is based on research results from the University of Delaware, the University of Maryland, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey, The Pennsylvania State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, West Virginia University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, combined with industry and grower knowledge and experience. This publication will be revised biennially. In January 2023, a Critical Update with important updates for this publication will be communicated through local Extension Agents and Vegetable Specialists. The editors welcome constructive criticism and suggestions from growers and industry personnel who may wish to help improve future editions of this publication. These recommendations are intended for the commercial vegetable grower who has to make numerous managerial decisions. Although the proper choices of variety, pesticides, equipment, irrigation, fertilizer, and cultural practices are the individual vegetable grower’s responsibility, it is intended that these recommendations will facilitate decision-making. Recommended planting dates will vary across the six-state region. Local weather conditions, grower experience, and variety may facilitate successful harvest on crops planted outside the planting dates listed in this guide. This can be evaluated in consultation with the local agents and state specialists. Government agencies and other organizations administrating crop insurance programs or other support programs should contact local Extension agents and/or vegetable specialists for guidance. Not to be used by home gardeners. Published version

Salmonella enterica contamination of low water activity foods (LWAFs) has resulted in recalls of spices, herbs, and seeds and outbreaks of salmonellosis. To improve the safety of these ready-to-eat products, new treatment methods, including fumigation with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) gas are being explored, and effectiveness determined. To prevent overestimation of treatment effectiveness, it is vital that recovery methods should accurately quantify all viable cells, even those injured. This study evaluated different media and supplements for the recovery of multiple strains of S. enterica and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B2354, from ClO2 or H2O2 treated black peppercorns, dried basil leaves, and chia seeds. Also, this study aimed to compare the log reduction of these two microorganisms to evaluate E. faecium NRRL B2354, as a surrogate for S. enterica. On average, recovery of S. enterica was improved by 1 log CFU from ClO2 and H2O2 treated LWAFs when a non-selective but differential media containing tryptic soy agar with yeast extract, ammonium iron citrate and sodium thiosulfate (MTSAYE) was used, when compared to plating on XLD (p < 0.05). Furthermore, addition of sodium pyruvate, ferrous sulfate, or 3’3’-thiodiproionate supplements to MTSAYE did not show increased recovery of either S. enterica or E. faecium NRRL B2354 (p > 0.05). On each treatment and LWAF combination tested, there was no significant difference between the log reduction of S. enterica and E. faecium NRRL B2354, indicating its suitability as a surrogate under the test conditions. Published version

Campylobacter and pathogenic Escherichia coli illnesses are attributed to consumption of fresh produce. From 2018-2021 there were eleven multistate outbreaks investigated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were linked to leafy greens. The leafy green, kale, is increasingly consumed raw. Without cooking, there is no heat kill step to remove harmful pathogens from raw kale. There are several places along the supply chain that leafy greens, such as kale, can become contaminated with E. coli and Campylobacter. Contamination can occur at the farm during growth, during harvest, and after harvest. In comparison to other leafy greens kale has a longer shelf life often exceeding 15 days under proper storage conditions

CyberBioSecurity is an emerging field at the interface of life sciences and digital worlds (Murch, 2018). The solution to the global cyberbiosecurity challenge is not merely technical; society needs cyberbiosecurity professionals who engage in leadership with a boundary-crossing approach that involves collective effort. Such an approach emerges from leadership-as-practice development (LaPD), characterized by its efforts to “change patterns and thinking that could transform a culture of mediocrity to one of excellence and resilience'' (Raelin, 2020, p. 2). While LaPD has been used in some professional learning contexts and it aligns with some signature pedagogies of the professions, the opportunity remains for embedding LaPD in graduate education to meet the needs of emerging fields. The objective of this proposed project is to catalyze transformative cyberbiosecurity graduate education in a way that increases cognitive integrative capability among cyberbiosecurity scientists and professionals. As noted by Pratch (2014), “leaders who possess integrative capacity are better able to assess problems and find workable solutions than those who do not” (p. 1). In this project, we intend to embedding LaPD in online graduate and train-the-trainer modules, testing various pedagogies associated with boundary-crossing graduate education. The approach will include use of collaborative leadership learning groups (CLLGs), which are “anchored in practice, bringing together learners who can identify and work together on the challenges they face collectively” (Denyer & Turnbull James, 2016, p. 269). Our specific research questions include: What signature pedagogies best support the emerging discipline of CyberBioSecurity education? To what extent do collaborative leadership learning groups (CLLGs) increase students’ cognitive integrative capability?

Growers wanting to access the farm to school market, need to thoroughly understand a school district’s food safety policies in order to satisfy requirements for food purchases. While a third-party GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) audit and certification is neither a federal or state requirement, some school divisions may still require it in Virginia. Yet, regardless of whether or not an audit is required, recognizing and having a good grasp about potential on-farm produce safety hazards (Figure 1) and incorporating best food safety practices (GAP) for reducing potential produce contamination are critical when selling to schools. In addition, it is important to know how the schools will verify food safety practices (i.e. verbal or written agreements, farm visits, reviewing food safety plan or records, etc.). In this publication, we will take a closer look at the process for identifying hazards to provide a context for addressing them and using a checklist document as a verification tool. Published online version

The use of untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) have been identified as one potential mechanism for the dissemination and persistence of Salmonella in the produce growing environment. Data on factors influencing Salmonella concentration in amended soils are therefore needed. The objectives here were to (i) compare die-off between 12 Salmonella strains following inoculation in amended soil and (ii) characterize any significant effects associated with soil-type, irrigation regimen, and amendment on Salmonella survival and die-off. Three greenhouse trials were performed using a randomized complete block design. Each strain (similar to 4 log CFU/g) was homogenized with amended or non-amended sandy-loam or clay-loam soil. Salmonella levels were enumerated In 25 g samples 0, 0.167 (4 h), 1,2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21,28, 56, 84, 112, 168, 210, 252, and 336 days post-inoculation (dpi), or until two consecutive samples were enrichment negative. Regression analysis was performed between strain, soil-type, Irrigation, and (i) time to last detect (survival) and (li) concentration at each time-point (die-off rate). Similar effects of strain, irrigation, soil-type, and amendment were identified using the survival and die-off models. Strain explained up to 18% of the variance in survival, and up to 19% of variance In die-off rate. On average Salmonella survived for 129 days in amended soils, however, Salmonella survived, on average, 30 days longer In clay-loam soils than sandy-loam soils [95% Confidence interval (Cl) = 45, 15], with survival time ranging from 84 to 210 days for the individual strains during dally irrigation. When strain- specific associations were investigated using regression trees, S. Javiana and S. Saintpaul were found to survive longer In sandy-loam soil, whereas most of the other strains survived longer In clay-loam soil. Salmonella also survived, on average, 128 days longer when irrigated weekly, compared to daily (Cl = 101, 154), and 89 days longer in amended soils, than non-amended soils (Cl = 61,116). Overall, this study provides insight into Salmonella survival following contamination of field soils by BSAAO. Specifically, Salmonella survival may be strain- specific as affected by both soil characteristics and management practices. These data can assist in risk assessment and strain selection for use in challenge and validation studies. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)United States Department of Health & Human Services; Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS); Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station; Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)United States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) [T32ES007271] This project was funded, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Funding for this work was also provided by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. Manuscript preparation and data analyses were supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number T32ES007271. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the FDA, USDA, NIH, and VDACS.

Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center Virtual Research Field day includes various presentations and publications of the authors’ above, which are each linked in the body of the publication NP

This factsheet provides answers to questions discussed and posed during the webinar. We will briefly look at what we know about SARS-CoV2 behavior, such as how it is transmitted, its viability, its inactivation, and then provide recommendations for food-based businesses NP

Discusses testing of water that will be used for cleaning harvested crops.

Discusses On-Farm Readiness Review so that farmers and food producers can organize their food safety practices with food safety requirements.

Discusses food safety requirements for packinghouses.

Discusses the Produce Safety rule and its requirements about various kinds of soil amendments to reduce the risk of contaminating produce.

Discusses important points that food produces need to remember when trying to market their foods to schools.

Discusses important issues regarding locally grown foods being used in schools.

Discusses ways some fruits and vegetables during handling can become can become internally contaminated with pathogens. Discusses ways to mitigate this risk.

Coffee grown in the United States, primarily from the state of Hawai’i, represents less than 1% of the world’s supply. Kona coffee, grown on the western side of the island of Hawai’i, is the most recognized and highest valued Hawaiian coffee. The majority of this coffee is sun-dried after harvest and washing. Sun-dried coffee should reach 9-13% moisture within 4 to 6 days. Reducing water activity (aw) below 0.75, especially in the first week of drying, is important for preventing or limiting mold growth. The purpose of this study was to compare drying rates of Kona coffee bean batches using aw and moisture content % measurements, and evaluate factors affecting the drying time of sun-dried Kona coffee. Ten Kona region farms were visited in the fall of 2017 to measure the drying rate of coffee bean batches and to record observations on the post-harvest handling and storage of coffee beans and the environmental conditions during drying. Daily measurements of coffee moisture level, water activity, bean layer depth and coffee temperature were recorded along with air temperature, relative humidity and cloud cover during drying for 30 batches. Most sun-dried batches reached 13% moisture in 6 to 10 days. Initial moisture content (31.6 ± 4.3%), and drying yard characteristics varied greatly among farms. Coffee batches reached 0.75 aw within 6 days on average, but some batches required more than 10 days. Allowing airflow around drying beans and maintaining a bean layer depth of less than 5 cm appeared to improve drying rates. Drying coffee parchments within 7 days post-harvest can inhibit growth of molds that may impact quality or molds that could produce mycotoxin. Controlling the drying conditions, including raking the layered beans, and monitoring moisture content can accelerate, or improve the consistency of, batch drying time.

Cattle are commonly administered antibiotics, resulting in excretion of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The aim of this study was to determine if the use of dairy manure collected during antibiotic administration influences the bacterial microbiota of lettuce and radishes, including carriage of ARB and ARGs, when applied as a soil amendment and if composting mitigates the effects. Lettuce and radishes were grown in field-plots amended with raw manure from antibiotic-treated (cephapirin, pirlimycin) cows, composted manure from antibiotic-treated cows, composted manure from antibiotic-free cows, or an inorganic chemical fertilizer (control; 12 plots, n = 3). Surficial vegetable bacteria and antibiotic resistomes (i.e., total ARGs) were characterized using heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) on antibiotic-containing media, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and shot-gun metagenomics. The different manure and compost amendments did not result in significant changes to the surficial vegetable bacteria at the phylum level; however, some minor changes at the class and family level were observed. Beta-diversities of the ARGs detected by shotgun metagenomic sequencing were distinctly different between vegetable type (R = 0.30, p = 0.04), with small separations between the resistomes associated with amendment type in unrarefied analysis (R = 0.27, p = 0.02), but not rarefied analysis, of the data. Network analysis highlighted that multi-drug ARG classes commonly co-occurred with plasmid-associated genes and could be a driver of co-and cross-selection of ARGs in the different conditions. Carriage of sul1 and tet(W) ARGs on vegetables quantified by qPCR were strong indicators of manure-based amendment relative to chemical fertilizer, with some reduction incurred via composting (p < 0.05). Also, increased HPCs resistant/tolerant to clindamycin, a class of antibiotics administered to cattle, were on lettuce grown in biological soil amendments relative to chemical fertilizer (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that amending soil with rawmanure collected fromdairy cows during antibiotic administration may affect the composition of microbiota and resistomes associated with vegetable surfaces. Composting may be an important strategy to reduce some ARGs on fresh produce, but differences in the resistomes of lettuce and radishes suggest the extent of soil contact should be considered. This work was supported by the USDA NIFA-AFRI 2014-05280/2015-68003-23050 awards and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture.