Welcome

The mission of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food is to support and promote agriculture and serve consumers and business for the benefit of the public health, environment and economy.

Official Statement from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire on Organic Certification Services in New Hampshire.

2023 Flooding Disaster Resources for Produce Growers

For specific questions about how produce crops or fields may be affected by flooding, please contact the NH DAMF Produce Safety Program Team at victoria.m.smith@agr.nh.gov or reach out to UNH Extension at 603-389-6453. Under U.S. law, crops, where the edible portion of the plant has contacted flood waters, are considered adulterated and cannot be sold for human consumption. There is no set timeline for when growers can safely replant after flood waters have receded. Growers should wait 60 days or more to replant crops that are commonly eaten raw with an edible portion of the crop that grows in the ground (such as radishes) or directly on the soil surface (such as lettuce). Typical waiting periods for other crops include 30-60 days. For more information, please review the following resources:

• NH Produce Safety Program – FAQs About Handling Flooded Produce
• Produce Safety Alliance – Food Safety for Flooded Farms
• FDA – Evaluating the Safety of Flood-affected Food Crops for Human Consumption

Increased Cases of Listeriosis this Summer

The New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has identified an uptick in cases of listeriosis this summer compared to recent years. Many of these have been sheep or goats showing neurologic signs. The most likely route of exposure is feed contaminated with the infectious organism. Hay or other feed that has spoiled after getting wet is a common source of infection. The bacterium that causes listeriosis, Listeria monocytogenes, can be infectious to people, as well. If you suspect listeriosis in your animals, contact a veterinarian. For more detailed information about listeriosis, please see https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/FastFacts/pdfs/listeriosis_F.PDF and https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/listeriosis.pdf. If you have questions about listeriosis in humans, contact your healthcare provider.