Motivations and Barriers to Implementing Produce Food Safety Practices

This study utilizes a unique set of primary data collected from produce growers who sell to U.S. markets. The research assesses the implementation of on-farm produce safety practices, identifies the biggest challenges faced by growers to date, and explores barriers to further adoption of new practices. The majority of survey respondents reported implementing produce safety practices on their farms. Key challenges identified include recordkeeping, wildlife and domesticated animals, worker health and hygiene training, and job-specific produce safety worker training. Motivators for adopting produce safety practices include regulatory compliance, personal commitment to produce safety, maintaining market access, and reducing liability. Time and financial constraints were the most commonly reported barriers across all food safety practices, with the impact varying depending on the specific practice. The findings highlight the importance of outreach and support for growers who continue to face difficulties in implementing produce safety practices. Providing evidence-based education that simplifies the adoption of risk-reducing tools and techniques supports enhancing produce safety and public health. Additionally, targeted research focusing on vulnerabilities, behavioral change factors, and cost-effective mitigation strategies can assist growers in effectively identifying risks and implementing safety practices.