Food Safety Guidelines for Farmers Markets in the United States: A Need for Standardization

Introduction: Consumer support for the local food movement and farmers markets has grown exponentially in the past decade. Although there have been few foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDO) directly linked to farmers markets, the majority of FBDOs are never identified. Therefore, farmers market vendors (i.e., farmers and prepared food workers) and managers need to ensure that appropriate good handling practices and best management practices are followed to protect public health from the contamination of fresh produce commodities sold at the market. 

Purpose: The overall goal of this pilot study was to determine whether farmers market vendor guidelines include recommendations for good food safety practices specific to the handling of fresh produce. 

Methods: Farmers markets (n =12) across the United States were randomly selected and vendor guidelines were analyzed for food safety related information/standards and procedures. The contents were recorded and a comparative analysis was conducted.

Results: Overall, only 8.3% of farmers markets state explicit food handling procedures that would enhance food safety. Only 33.3% of farmers markets have information for vendors regarding inspection of farms and products for verifying compliance with federal, local and national policies. Last, the majority of the markets (91.7%) do not restrict vendors from selling fresh poultry and meat products that can be leading causes of viral and bacterial cross contamination on to fresh produce.

Significance: These results demonstrate a need for basic standardization of food safety instructions, guidelines and regulations at farmers markets. It is crucial for farmers market managers to be clear and explicit in their communication with vendors regarding good food safety practices and strive to protect public health. These data contribute to our digital compilation of rules and guidelines for vendors for each state as part of USDA NIFA 2013-68003-21288.