The State of California has deemed farming a critical infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic ensuring food supplies are not disrupted. Kirschenman Enterprises takes employee safety as our top priority.
All employees go through a thorough general safety and food safety training program to understand and apply the most up to date safety procedures available. We have implemented frequent COVID 19 safety training seminars to update our employees on the ever-changing COVID19 updates, informing all of our team members of areas where we can minimize risks. Throughout our company and every worksite, production crews are provided with handwashing stations and sanitizers, surgical-grade masks that are fully enforced in the workplace to help minimize
Food safety is a critical function and all state food inspection programs will continue, including inspections for leafy greens, milk, eggs, and other commodities. Inspectors will provide a five-day notification to ease the burden for processors and allow time for inspectors and staff to take precautions for social distancing. The Produce Safety Program (PSP) operates under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and will follow guidelines as set forth by FDA.
Food inspectors are following CDC guidelines, including not traveling or working when feeling ill, washing hands regularly, maintaining person cleanliness, maintaining social distancing, not shaking hands and not touching their own faces. Inspection staff follow best food safety practices and any specific industry protocols when performing on-site inspections, which may range from using a hairnet to wearing gloves, booties or other protective gear, depending upon the environment. Inspectors are following all industry standards recommended by firms, including washing and sanitizing all field gear between farm visits, or wearing any protective gear a firm requires.
Federal and state officials have stated that there are no reports at this time of human illness that suggests COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) website goes into greater detail about food safety.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, without evidence of it being spread by food or food packaging.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) website also states there are no reports of COVID-19 being transmitted by food or food packaging, while stressing the importance of following good hygiene practices.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) relays food safety information in a COVID-19 and the Food Supply Chain document and offers COVID-19 Updates.