Advantage Good Agricultural Practices Manual

6.2 General Storage

Products that are not stored appropriately can perish, spoil, become contaminated or contaminate other products.

This Good Agricultural Practice applies to:

All farms.

Note: The storage of fuels, pesticides and animal health products is dealt with separately in 6.3 Storage of Potentially Hazardous Products in this manual.

What needs to be done

Store products under appropriate conditions to prevent perishing, spoilage and contamination.

How to do it

In general

Prior to storing any products, make sure storage facilities are in good condition and clean.

For all storage facilities for dry products:

• Allow maintenance and cleaning activities to occur as needed.
• Keep storage facilities well ventilated and dry.
• Deter pest access and infestation.
• Identify storage facilities properly.
  
  

Cover and/or protect products during storage, and especially during cleaning,to prevent or minimize contamination by micro-organisms, chemicals, foreign materials and pests.

Avoid placing packaging material in direct contact with the floor.

Store bagged or packaged dry products off the floor and away from surrounding walls to prevent or minimize contamination, pest infestation and water damage.

Temperature and humidity control

• Crops: For most produce, a temperature of 4°C (39°F) is suitable for storage. However, a number of products require a specific storage temperature, ranging from -1°C to 21°C (30°F to 70°F).
• Milk and eggs: Storage temperature requirements can be found in 9.3 Milking Practices and 9.4 Egg Handling in this manual.
  

Temperature control systems must take into account the:

• Intended shelf-life of the product
• Type of packaging being used for the product
• Appropriate maintenance schedule for ideal temperature control (for more information please refer to 3.1 Equipment Maintenance and Calibration in this manual.)
  

Monitor temperature regularly where required.

First-in, first-out rotation

Use the first-in, first-out principle to make sure products are rotated through your facility on a regular basis so that the oldest products are used first.

Use receiving documents to identify which products are to be used first, or store products in the order received.

High moisture storage for crops

Some crops require a high moisture environment for storage. Ensure that moisture controls are set at the appropriate level and do not provide an environment that will cause unwarranted spoilage to occur.

To prevent the accumulation of bacteria, clean and sanitize these areas between use.

Feed storage

Improper storage can cause feeds to spoil and lead to the development of moulds and the mycotoxins produced by these moulds. The accumulation of mycotoxins can be hazardous to livestock and the humans who consume them.

To prevent the development of mycotoxins:

• Follow proper silage production and maintenance practices to prevent deterioration.
• Store feeds in a dry and secure location, off the floor if possible, to prevent mould formation or pest infestation.
• Dispense feed according to daily intakes so that animals don't leave uneaten feed in bunks, troughs or bowls. Remove any uneaten feed regularly.
• More details can be found in the publication "Understanding and Coping with Effects of Mycotoxins in Livestock Feed and Forage."
  

Storage of manure/compost, fruit and vegetable culls

Either locate storage and treatment sites (e.g. composting) as far away as practical from livestock, poultry, fresh fruit and vegetable handling areas and water sources or separate them from production and water locations with an appropriate physical barrier designed to minimize contamination due to run-off or leachate.

References with temperatures for storage of produce

Take a look at our website for links to two good resources on specific temperatures for produce storage. They include most of the produce grown in Ontario.

• Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• Storage Conditions for Fruit, Vegetables and Fresh Produce

Records to keep

Where applicable for the product, a Temperature Monitoring Record. We have provided a record template for your use in the Training and Support Tools section. A printable version is also available. Or keep your own record that includes:

• Date/Time
• Temperature
• Initials

If you need an audit

Be prepared for the auditor to review:

• Temperature Monitoring Records where applicable for the product (e.g. milk and egg storage)
  

Laws and regulations that apply

All food must be stored under sanitary conditions. The Food and Drugs Act, R.S., c. F-27, s. 7 states that no person shall manufacture, prepare, preserve, package or store for sale any food under unsanitary conditions.

The Nutrient Management Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 4 and Regulation 267/03 specifies conditions for the storage of manure and compost. These only cover storage that does not meet the guidelines entitled "Interim Guidelines for the Production and Use of Aerobic Compost in Ontario."

There are 13 regulations for different commodities under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F. 8, s. 2 (1) 12, which provides that the Minister may make regulations respecting the cleanliness and sanitation of premises in which a farm product is stored, processed, graded, packed, sold or offered for sale. Regulations may also control other aspects of storage (e.g. Apples - Controlled Atmosphere Storage, O. Reg. 95/97).

Useful references from OMAFRA

Take a look at the Nutrient Management page of the OMAFRA website for resources on:

• Manure storage location, capacity and requirements
• Separation distances
• Nutrient management plans and strategies

For specific information on manure/compost storage, check out these publications:

• Nutrient Management Act, 2002: Building A Permanent Storage for Solid Manure or Prescribed Materials Over 18% Dry Matter #05-039
• Temporary Field Storage of Solid Manure or Prescribed Materials #05-009
• Constructing a Permanent Concrete or Steel Liquid Nutrient or Runoff Storage Facility #06-001
• Constructing an Earthen Liquid Nutrient or Runoff Storage Facility #06-005

Proceed to 6.3 Storage of Potentially Hazardous Products