** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** POSTHARVEST WATER IS ANY WATER THAT CONTACTS FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES OR FOOD CONTACT SURFACES DURING OR AFTER HARVEST. POSTHARVEST WATER USE MAY BE A NECESSARY PART OF PRODUCE PRODUCTION, BUT IT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF MICROBIAL CROSS-CONTAMINATION SINCE HAZARDS INTRODUCED INTO THE WATER (E.G., SOIL ADHERING TO THE PRODUCE) CAN LED TO WIDESPREAD PATHOGEN PROLIFERATION. WHILE SOME PROCESSORS USE SINGLE-PASS SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT RECYCLE THE WATER, MOST POSTHARVEST PROCESSES RECIRCULATE USED WATER TO CONSERVE WATER AND ENERGY. SINCE WATER REUSE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL MICROBIOLOGICAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATION OF MICROORGANISMS, DETERMINING A WATER CHANGE SCHEDULE FOR RECIRCULATED WATER THAT SAFEGUARDS PRODUCE SAFETY AS WELL AS OPTIMIZES WATER CONSUMPTION WILL ASSIST WITH MAXIMIZING RESOURCES (E.G., WATER, ENERGY). WHILE THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY PLACES HEAVY EMPHASIS ON ESTABLISHING WATER-CHANGE SCHEDULES AND MAINTAINING SANITIZER CONCENTRATIONS TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION OF PRODUCE, VALIDATION STUDIES CONDUCTED ON COMMERCIAL POSTHARVEST WATER SYSTEMS ARE LACKING. THIS MULTISTATE PROJECT INTENDS TO DEVELOP AND CONFIRM STRATEGIES FOR ON-SITE VALIDATION OF COMMERCIAL POSTHARVEST WATER SYSTEMS AIMED AT OPTIMIZING PRODUCE SAFETY AND WATER CONSUMPTION FOR THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY.OBJECTIVE 1: DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR ON-SITE VALIDATION OF COMMERCIAL FLUME SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCE SAFETY AND WATER CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION.OBJECTIVE 2: CONFIRM VALIDATION STRATEGY BY CONDUCTING ON-SITE ASSESSMENTS OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT FLUME SYSTEMS WITHIN COMMERCIAL TREE FRUIT PACKING OPERATIONS.OBJECTIVE 3: DEVELOP EXTENSION DOCUMENTS, GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS, AND HANDS-ON FIELD DAY ACTIVITIES ON THE KEY CRITERIA NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY VALIDATE IN-PROCESS FLUME SYSTEMS.