Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries

Agritourism is a growing aspect of Maine farms that brings consumers closer to where their food is grown. This type of value-added diversification takes place in the form of ‘direct market’ (farm-stands and pick-your-own), ‘education’ (field days and farm-stays), and ‘recreation’ (event-hosting and activities). Any way you decide to invite people to your farm, it can be community building and a great marketing tactic. Here you will find some general guidelines, considerations, and resources for pick-your-own (PYO) and other agritourism approaches that may bring guests to your farm.

While there are many things to consider in order to provide an efficient, safe, and comfortable place where visitors would like to spend their time, there are also some ‘must haves’ set forth by the FDA to ensure good food safety practices. These ‘must haves’ include protocols and rules established by the farm to ensure guests are practicing proper sanitation and proper food safety (i.e. washing foods prior to consumption or not bringing pets into the field). For agritourism checklists and pre-made signs that can be printed and posted around your farm, please visit: https://safeagritourism.org/resources/.

FDA Guidelines

Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1B, Part 112D Health and Hygiene, Section 112.33 “What measures must I take to prevent visitors from contaminating covered produce and food contact surfaces with microorganisms of public health significance?” states:

1. Visitors must be aware of and comply with policies and procedures designed to protect produce and food contact surfaces from contamination.
2. Visitors must have access to toilet and handwashing facilities.

Whole document: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=112.33

Meeting these guidelines at a field near a farm building would be easier than attempting to do rake-your-own at a more remote wild blueberry field. Renting a portable toilet during the months of picking may be the best option for wild blueberry growers as the picking location will change yearly with the crop cycle. Portable toilet rentals cost between $100-$250 per month (see the local cost analysis table below). Renting this facility will ensure it will be cleaned regularly allowing the grower to focus on other farm tasks. Hand washing stations may be rented or homemade. If handwashing stations are homemade, these would require an adequate amount of clean water and soap replenished throughout the season. While hand sanitizer cannot replace handwashing, it is a good and recommended option in addition to handwashing, see the Produce Safety Alliance; guide to Cleaning vs. Sanitizing.

Legal action has been taken in Maine to protect the grower and farm when allowing and hosting agritourism activities. Enacted in 2012, Chapter 8-E of Maine Public Law was designed to promote agritourism activities and reduce liability on the grower or farm.

Maine Law

Public Law, Chapter 609, Sec. 1. 7 MRSA c. 8-E, Promotes Agricultural Activity in Maine by Limiting the Liability for Agritourism Activities. This states:

“An agritourism professional is not liable for any property damage or damages arising from the personal injury of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities”

There is an exception, however, if the agritourism professional is at fault. If the agritourism professional:

1. “Commits an act or omission that constitutes negligence or reckless disregard for the safety of others, and that act or omission causes an injury.”
2. “Had knowledge of dangerous conditional or intentionally injures a participant.”

Whole document: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC609.asp