Tomatoes are a highly nutritious source of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. For the nation to realize the associated benefits, it is important that consumer confidence in the microbial safety of tomatoes remain at a high level. To that end, scientists from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and the University of Florida teamed with Florida tomato growers and packers to address critical food safety gaps. Their findings encouraged the industry to develop "Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain," the adoption of which will reduce microbiological hazards associated with fresh and fresh-cut tomatoes.
NIFA supports the research through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
Learn more about this research.
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