The health department on farmers markets
June 20, 2010
St. Charles County, MO
St. Charles County’s Department of Community Health and the Environment does not require electrical hookups at farmers markets.
“We need to make it clear what our department does and does not do in regards to farmers markets,” said department director Gil Copley. “In the last two years, the number of markets has increased and the products offered have expanded beyond the traditional fruits and vegetables to include meats, cheeses, and other foods.”
“In March, we published information about basic public health food safety requirements. However, there is still some confusion. Meat products, fish, and fowl must be held at the temperature required by the food code, but they can be kept at that temperature in an approved chest freezer that has been cooled to 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower with the product inside before being transported to the market. Cheese and eggs can similarly be held in a container capable of maintaining the required temperature. Water ice is not allowed.
“We routinely assign an Environmental Public Health Specialist to work with vendors who want to sell these products. Our goal is to protect the public health in a way that is not cost-prohibitive to the vendor.”
Copley added, “Our department strongly supports the farmers market concept. At a time when most of us are not consuming nearly enough daily servings of vegetables and fruits, farmers markets provide fresh products straight from the farm to consumers. Not only are these products nutritionally good for us, they often taste better.”
The guidelines for farmers markets are posted on the department’s website at www.scchealth.org/docs/ph/ph_docs/phehs/farmersmarket.html . Vendors or consumers with additional questions can call the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at 636-949-1800.
The St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is committed to the protection and enhancement of health and the quality of life for all members of our community. For more information, call 636-949-7400 or visit www.scchealth.org.
From the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment
Copyright 2010 Neighbors About Town
