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Farm #7...oFF TO TexAs! WHEW...THAT'S A LONG WAY... AND WORTH EVERY MILE TO ASSIST THE NEXT FARM FAMILY OPERATION!

8/31/2020

If you ever wondered about logistic (trailer) washout procedures, here is a short video. Watch the bay to the right side. And by the way, LIV the RV gets a wash between every farm.

New Mexico stop over. While there, it was fun to video the nearby childhood home of some friends back in California and share it with them.

Fun little Texas RV Park off the highway. See LIV between the donkeys ears?

Drove thru Texas Hill Country on my way to San Antonio where I will stay a few days to enjoy the sites and scenes...with my mask on and social distancing!

Not much open due to the pandemic. Enjoyed long walks along the river and the sound of the water in the background while working remotely in AgEmpowered mobile office.

Short drive from SA to Farm #7. When I arrived, an electrician was installing a 30 amp plug for LIV. My clients are all so kind and are sure to make me feel welcome and comfortable during my farm visits. Farm 7 is a specialty citrus orchard and currently building a packinghouse. We will be setting up food safety flow charts, implementing Standard Operating Procedures, retrofitting equipment to comply to food safety standards and training employees. This operation should be ready for an audit early next year. Buyers be ready for this top notch citrus operation!

Check out the Finger Lime to the right. The Caviar of citrus.

5:30 am alarm every morning...nice...Will return to this farm for audit day.Another successful farm visit.

Taking a side trip to visit New Mexico Department of Ag friends. OTRA!

Back through Hill Country past San Antonio and straight up highway 84 (seems like neverending) dry flat Texas.

Here is some shots of my stay with NMDA recently retired friends and their soon to be apple farm. This North Central NM property sits in a valley where the Pecos River runs thru it. Retired doesn't mean vacation for these folks!

Hatch chili season! Can't visit NM this time of the year without freshly roasted Hatch Chili Quesadillas! YUM! 😋

Hard to leave this wonderful place. On to Farm # 8. See you next post!

Farm #5, Cooler #6 Visit and a quick stop to see family

8/17/2020

Assisting Farm #5 Food Safety Coordinator in the southern part of California.

California LGMA Food Safety Practices (Metrics) water assessment. https://lgma.ca.gov/food-safety-program
AND
Internal audit for upcoming annual PrimusGFS Farm and Facility annual audit.

There is LIV (left side ) parked under trees by this farms packinghouse. Excellent food safety program implementation, a clean and efficient facility and great well trained staff. Another successful Farm Visit! See you on audit day Farm #5!

In California...Need a family fix! Lots of exciting family news. My Son has purchased his first home, wine grape harvest has begun for my daughter and son-in-law and my daughter who assists me with AgEmpowered has many new improvements to her home. All 7 grandkids doing just fine with online learning. My daughters have done a fine job setting up home study areas.

All is well and LIV and I are happy to be home even, if for a short time.

Off again to Cooler #6 Visit in Salinas, California. We are preparing for an annual facility audit using the PrimusGFS schema. Internal audits are an important part of "checking up" on food safety program implementation and include but not limited to fine tuning of; industry changes in best practices; findings regarding needed staff retraining; and edits to Standard Operating and Sanitation Procedures. They should happen throughout the year and when I assist with annual audit preparation day, I use the audit checklist my client will be audited against.

Two days reviewing documents with the management staff, touring operations, identifying a few corrective actions and discussing implementation. See you on audit day Cooler #6!

Off to Texas to visit Farm #7! See you next post!