Keep accurate records to document all procedures and maintenance activities. All workers should be educated about the importance of restroom use and proper handwashing. Workers should be provided proper gloves, aprons, and hairnets to minimize contamination. Implementing well-documented GAP's can facilitate an expeditious traceback procedure so that suspected microbial contamination can be traced to the field or point of origin. The recent introductions of target specific insecticides for lepidopterous or aphid pests has given rise to thrips as a major economic pest in vegetables.
Thrips become abundant in the spring when temperatures begin to warm up.
On lettuce, thrips cause cosmetic damage to the cap leaves by scarring or giving a scorched or speckled appearance. On-going field tests are being conducted by J. Palumbo, UA Research Entomologist, in Yuma. Immediately start to eliminate the mustards, cheeseweeds, and grasses using disks or nonselective herbicides along roadsides, ditchbanks, and fences. BMP's for PM10. Commercial farming operations in Maricopa County must implement best management practices by the end of 2001 to reduce particulate matter in the air.