**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS RESEARCH/EXTENSION INTEGRATED PROJECT AIMS TO VALIDATE THE TRIPLE-WASH PROCESS WITH COMMERCIAL ANTIMICROBIALS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY TO CONTROL MICROBIAL CROSS-CONTAMINATION FOR WEST VIRGINIA SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN. WV SMALL FARM CENTER ENCOURAGES LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS TO APPLY TRIPLE-WASH PROCESS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL SOLUTIONS TO PRODUCE SURFACES IF THEIR PRODUCE IS EATEN RAW OR GROWN CLOSE TO THE GROUND, BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED BY A MAJOR WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (APPALACHIAN HARVEST) A BUYER AGGREGATES PRODUCE FROM 75-100 SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS IN WV. THE PD'S TEAM HAVE PROVIDED STAKEHOLDERS WITH PRELIMINARY STUDY RESULTS RELATED TO MICROBIAL PATHOGEN REDUCTION AND SHELF LIFE STUDIES FOR MULTIPLE PRODUCE COMMODITIES. HOWEVER, THE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF MICROBIAL CROSS-CONTAMINATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE NANOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF TRIPLE-WASH PROCESS ARE STILL NEEDED. THEREFORE, THIS PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO: 1) APPLY NANOTECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN TRIPLE-WASH PROCESS WATERS AND DEVELOP AN ENTERPRISE BUDGET TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF THE PROCEDURE; 2) EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF APPLYING TRIPLE-WASH USING ANTIMICROBIALS WITH NANOTECHNOLOGY TO MITIGATE MICROBIAL CROSS-CONTAMINATION ON LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE IN A COMMERCIAL PROCESSING PLANT AND DEVELOP PLANT ONSITE TRAINING COURSES; 3) ANALYZE FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN POST-HARVEST PROCESS WATERS FROM SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS IN WV AND DEVELOP ONLINE TRAINING MODULES FOR PRODUCE PROCESS WATER MANAGEMENT BASED ON FSMA REGULATIONS. RESULTS WILL BENEFIT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AS THEY PREPARE REGULATIONS TO MITIGATE FOOD SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCALLY GROWN FRESH PRODUCE IN WV.