Researchers Partner with Indiana Farmers for Food Safety Study

Several Hoosier farms are now part of a study dedicated to examining the causes of salmonella in the cantaloupe-growing regions of Indiana.

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If you grew up in southwest Indiana, chances are you spent your late summer either making a few extra bucks in the melon fields or simply chowing down on some farm-fresh watermelon or cantaloupe. Indiana is actually one of the leading growers of the latter. According to data from the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Hoosier state ranks sixth in cantaloupe production, and in 2018, planted 1,800 acres of cantaloupe with a production value of $8.6 million.

Examining Salmonella in Hoosier Produce Patches

In recent years, salmonella has become a greater concern, with outbreaks linked to produce in Arizona, California, Florida, and several other states. Scientists are now looking into this issue and have partnered with Hoosier growers to examine the prevalence and persistence of salmonella in our region. According to the Purdue College of Agriculture, the university and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have embarked on a multiyear study focused on the cantaloupe-growing region of southwest Indiana.

A Close Look at Hoosier Farms

The study includes four Purdue-operated farms in northwest Indiana’s Tippecanoe County and the Southwest Purdue Ag Center near Vincennes. Additionally, the study will encompass one farm in central Indiana. Researchers plan to sample air, soil, water, and animal scat while also collecting weather data to better understand what environmental conditions may encourage the survival, growth, and spread of pathogens. The statewide study hopes to address issues related to food safety and, thus, how they can be combated. You can learn more HERE.