Farmers markets strive to ensure safety

Farmers markets are increasingly popular, offering everything from fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, and bakery and meat products. But the laid-back atmosphere doesn't mean mobile food inspectors aren't out ensuring your safety.

To make certain that what you're buying is safe to eat, Maricopa County inspectors visit farmers markets at least twice a season. They also inspect vending machines, mobile pet groomers and pushcarts.

The inspections are even more important now because people tend to buy fresh turkeys, other meats and seasonal ingredients for their Thanksgiving dinners.

"During this season alone, beginning in October, we have conducted approximately 45 inspections at farmers markets," said Johnny Dilon้ of the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department. "Vendors selling any open food products are given special attention to ensure that food temperatures are maintained and hand washing is being addressed."

Keeping you in mind

Dee Logan of Arizona Community Farmers Markets, which manages farmers markets across the Valley, said safe food-handling practices are required of each vendor, including maintaining a mobile hand-washing station and having product labeling that lists ingredients and contact information.

"Overall the agents have been helpful in explaining their requirements of ensuring public health and safety, and educating our vendors on the best way to do this," Logan said.

Kenny Aschbacher, known at farmers markets as "Kenny the fishhugger," said shoppers should ask vendors where an item is from, how it was grown or raised and how it was harvested.

From Alaska to your plate

Each summer Aschbacher spends three months off Kodiak Island, Alaska, on a boat catching halibut, and silver, sockeye and king salmon. When he's asked how his salmon are killed, he'll pull his sharp, orange, non-serrated knife out of his back pocket.

"They're stunned unconscious, bled live and frozen to negative 20 degrees as quickly as possible," Aschbacher said. "People who are coming to me are looking for the upper echelon of the salmon. Sometimes they want to see the knife I use."

In addition to frozen salmon, Aschbacher sells USDA-inspected beef and lamb from his New Mexico ranch, honey and other bee products, rubs and olive oil. Each cut of meat is frozen, stored in a zippered freezer with like products.

Bring cooler

When buying frozen .meat products, consumers should take precautions, Dilon้ said.

"Ensure the product is coming from an approved source, the vendor should be permitted and the frozen meat should be maintained frozen," Dilon้ said.

Aschbacher suggests shoppers bring a cooler if buy frozen meat or eggs from a booth. Aschbacher will store purchases in a cooler until shoppers are ready to go home.

"For the most part, they buy one or two pieces to thaw and prepare anyway," Ashbacher said.

Karen Jackson originally from Trinidad, sells Carribean chutneys and spices at Roadrunner Park Farmers Market in Phoenix.