Small fruits are a multi-billion dollar industry in the US, and are economically important in many other countries. However, they are perishable and susceptible to physiological disorders and biological damage. Food safety and fruit quality are the major concerns of the food chain from farm to consumer, especially with increasing regulations in recent years. At present, the industry depends on pesticides and fungicides to control food spoilage organisms. However, due to consumer concerns and increasing demand for safer produce, efforts are being made to identify eco-friendly compounds that can extend the shelf life of small fruits. Most volatiles and essential oils produced by plants are safe for humans and the environment, and lots of research has been conducted to test the in vitro efficacy of single-compound volatiles or multi-compound essential oils on various microorganisms. However, there are not many reports on their in vivo (in storage) and In situ (in the field) applications. In this review, we discuss the efficacy, minimum inhibitory concentrations, and mechanisms of action of volatiles and essential oils that control microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) on small fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and grapes under the three conditions.

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Food safety concerns associated with products purchased at farmers' markets have arisen, highlighting the growing need for farmers' market consumer and producer awareness of potential public health issues. The focus of this quantitative research study was to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens in select value-added commodities (i.e., animal treats, soil amendments, herbs, honey, dressings, exotic foods, etc.) randomly procured from farmers' markets in Central Virginia. Between March and November 2017, collection of 194 samples originating from 40 individual farmers' market vendors selling at 11 different farmers' markets transpired. Detection of potentially harmful bacterial species within collected samples was as follows: 0.5% Campylobacter, 24.5% Escherichia coli, 16.7% Listeria, and 1.0% Salmonella. Bacterial isolates (n = 155) of Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella were tested for their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials. Tetracycline and ampicillin resistance showed the highest frequency among E. coli (approximately 30%) isolates. Nalidixic acid resistance was the highest in Listeria isolates (79.4%). Approximately 17% of E. coli isolates and more than 50% of each Campylobacter, Listeria, and Salmonella isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). No E. coli isolates had matching pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles demonstrating that the isolates had a high degree of genomic diversity and farm specificity. This study demonstrated an emerging public health threat of the presence of MDR arising from farmers' market-acquired value-added commodities. The importance of this research study highlights the value of implementing good agricultural and handling practices from farm (producer vendors) to table (consumers) to avert potential foodborne illness occurrence. Future research to determine potential reasons and supply chain interventions for the observed prevalence of MDR bacterial isolates from farmers' market value-added products is paramount.Disclaimer: This study simply indicates the occurrence and multidrug resistance (MDR) of foodborne pathogens on various and randomly selected value-added commodities available at farmers' markets in Virginia. Due to the limited availability of same commodities at different vendors among farmers' markets, each commodity acquired in duplicate may not be representative of all value-added commodities in the study area. However, the findings are noteworthy to understand the prevalence and MDR of foodborne pathogens on those commodities available at farmers' markets in broad spectrum. The authors would like to declare that this study was carried out, mainly for academic research purpose without any conflict of interest. Furthermore, mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by Virginia State University.

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As farmers' markets have increased in size, scope, and complexity, so have potential food‐safety challenges and implications. Most products sold at farmers' markets may receive minimal to no treatment of decontamination which could increase their potential microbial risks. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of foodborne pathogens in select fresh produce procured from farmers' markets in Central Virginia. A total of 138 samples produced by 15 farms and sold at 9 registered farmers' markets were obtained between March and November 2017. Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Listeria were, respectively, detected in 8.7, 9.4, and 8.0% of the samples. A total of 46 bacterial isolates consisted of Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria were tested for their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials. Ampicillin resistance showed the highest frequency among Campylobacter (100%) and E. coli (47.8%) isolates while nalidixic acid resistance was the highest in Listeria isolates (72.7%). At least 17% of each Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). No isolates had matching pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles demonstrating that the E. coli isolates had a high degree of genomic diversity. This study demonstrated a potential health hazard arising from farmers' market‐acquired fresh produce and emphasizes the importance of good agricultural and handling practices to prevent foodborne illness and spread of multidrug antibiotic resistance. Continued research is needed to determine and intervene the cause(s) of the observed prevalence and to support the healthy development of food products sold at farmers' markets.

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