AUTHOR=Chandler-Khayd Carolyn , Di Francesco Juliette , Baron Jerome N. , Ramos Thais De Melo , Aminabadi Peiman , Jay-Russell Michele T. , Haghani Viktoria , Millner Patricia D. , Pagliari Paulo H. , Hutchinson Mark , Kenney Annette , Hashem Fawzy , Martínez-López Beatriz , Bihn Elizabeth A. , Clements Donna P. , Shade Jessica B. , Sciligo Amber R. , Pires Alda F. A. 

TITLE=Risk factors associated with the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in manured soils on certified organic farms in four regions of the United States

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1222192

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2023.1222192

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=Biological soil amendments, including raw or untreated manure, are currently used to improve soil fertility, especially in organic operations that prohibit use of synthetic fertilizers. However, addition of untreated manure may pose a risk of contamination of fresh produce by pathogens of public health significance, including Listeria monocytogenes. Organic growers follow United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program regulations for raw manure use, which stipulate that harvest should commence no earlier than 90-or 120-days post-application, depending on direct contact between the edible portion of the produce and the soil. To inform the protection that such timeintervals provide, this study explored the farm-level risk factors associated with L. monocytogenes prevalence in USDA-certified organic farm soils amended with untreated manures. A longitudinal, multi-regional study was conducted on 19 farms in four states (California, Minnesota, Maine, and