A survey on the cleaning and sanitization practices for blueberry harvest containers and mechanical harvesters in the U.S.

Currently, cleaning and sanitation of harvesting tools and equipment are not mandatory, although part of Good Hygienic Practice is encouraged by blueberry grower associations, cooperative extension services, and regulatory bodies of the United States. Thus, fresh blueberry producers may select their preferred cleaning and sanitization approaches. This study aimed to gain insights into the cleaning and sanitation practices used by some blueberry producers (n = 71) by conducting an online survey. The 25 questions in the survey collected demographic information, operation type, harvesting method, and cleaning and sanitization approach used by participating fresh blueberry establishments. Most of the survey respondents (90.4 %) reported that they cleaned flats/lugs/crates at varying frequencies using cold or warm water along with scrubbing, or the use of pressure, a garden hose, or a washing machine. Among these respondents, 86.7 % used detergents, surfactants, or unspecified products for cleaning. About 90.1 % of the survey respondents used quaternary ammonium, bleach, selectrocide, or non-specified products to sanitize flats/lugs/crates, while 26.8 % (19/71) of the respondents used sanitizing wipes to clean harvest containers. Fifty-nine out of 71 respondents (83.1 %) cleaned mechanical harvesters at varying frequencies with either cold or warm water in combination with dish detergent, surfactant, nozzle, or non-specified approaches, and among these respondents, 55 (77.5 %) sanitized mechanical harvesters after cleaning. The study suggests that although most of the survey respondents have effective cleaning/sanitation practices in their facilities, education on postharvest food safety and equipment handling is necessary to encourage all fresh blueberry producers to adopt such practices. • We surveyed how blueberry containers and harvesters were cleaned and sanitized. • Growers (90.4 %) cleaned harvest containers with various methods and frequencies. • They (90.1 %) sanitized harvest containers with various approaches and sanitizers. • Growers (59/71) cleaned their harvesters with various methods and frequencies. • Most of them (55/71) sanitized mechanical harvesters after cleaning.