Depth of Biosecurity

[AceODST]

I was at Hannaford's (chain grocery store) and I saw a poster looking for farmer's to accept "food waste". Old produce and bread too I think is what this means. I was wondering if anyone else had this type of agreement now or in the past or at least knew if it was a good idea. Anyone in the world can walk in and start touching apples or whatever, would the food have to be steamed or otherwise handled to prevent an unwanted (obviously) outbreak?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've a cousin that does that. They use to have chickens and would raise pigs too. It supplemented the chickens some and was the sole food for pigs. It's actually a very good agreement. You'll end up with a ton of food. Well, she made the agreement with several stores and would have truck loads.

Keep in mind you can eat it too. I mean, a dented can is not what your eating rather whats inside. And some products you wouldn't even think twice that it's a bit past sell date.

 

[Sonya9]

Anyone in the world can walk in and start touching apples or whatever, would the food have to be steamed or otherwise handled to prevent an unwanted (obviously) outbreak?

Do you buy produce at the store now? If so, the same thing applies to what you are already buying and eating.

I would just treat the produce the way I normally do however if the produce were thrown in with raw meat and poultry products, bone scraps, etc... I wouldn't feed it to chickens. Just seems like an unnecessary risk, others may disagree.

 

[AceODST]

Originally Posted by Sonya9


Yeah, but I wash it extensively because it is a single item not a truck of unbeknownst matter.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

It's not barrels of produce and meat all thrown together. It will be on loading dock and you stack it how you want in your truck. There will be day old breads, pastries, other items past sale date, dented cans, cans without labels, smashed boxes, etc. in boxes that you pick up.