We’ve had a few inquiries from customers about food safety related to the Cyclospora outbreak, so we wanted to share this information with you about our farm and our practices to reassure our customers. We believe that the shorter the supply chain between you and your food, the less risk you have of being exposed to a large food recall or illness outbreak.
To Date: We have not been notified of any food safety concerns involving our farm’s fresh produce, and we are not aware of any connection between Frog Song Organics and the current Cyclospora outbreak.
At Frog Song Organics…
We use only well water for irrigation, which is tested quarterly to meet drinking water safety standards. We drink out of the same well that we use for irrigation, and do not use any surface water (such as ponds or ditches) for irrigation. All staff members are trained in basic food safety: washing your hands after using the restroom, and staying home from work if you exhibit certain symptoms of illness. We provide paid sick leave to our production team to be able to take the time off if needed to maintain our food safety program.
For our cut greens, we use a non-chlorine water treatment called Sanidate. This helps to reduce microbes that may be naturally occurring due to our practices of growing our food directly in the soil and out in the natural environment where contact with wildlife and microbes can happen.
We also source directly from partner growers who are all located in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The sources are always labeled transparently with the grower identified at our farmers markets and in our online store so you know exactly where it is coming from. We do not source any produce from Mexico, California or Arizona.
Cleaning Practices at Home
We recommend thoroughly washing all vegetables and fruits before consuming.
Wash all leafy greens in 2-3 water changes to remove sand, debris, insects or microbes that may be present due to natural growing methods. Make sure to wash produce that requires cutting into with soap and water before you cut into them to remove bacteria that comes directly from the soil.
Cyclospora Prevention
To avoid the Cyclospora parasite, it is suggested to peel the skin off of fruits and vegetables, and to cook your ingredients when possible to an internal temperature of 158 F or higher.
From Our Farm