A Susquehanna County dairy farmer, Abbie Evans, has expressed her surprise and dissatisfaction with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's response to a recent positive bacteria test at her farm.
The department issued a warning on May 5, urging consumers to discard "A Joy" brand raw milk products due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria at the farm's store in Little Meadows. However, Evans disputes the department's claim that the farm refused to cooperate.
According to Evans, the positive test result was discovered during a routine pathogen test in April. Although most of the milk had likely been consumed by the time she was informed, she promptly reached out to customers and advised them to dispose of any remaining milk. Evans took immediate action by replacing hoses and sanitizing the milking system to prevent any further contamination.
Evans expressed concern over the accusations made against the farm in the department's press release, she says that she did not refuse to comply with any requests. She received conflicting guidance from agency personnel regarding the need for a recall notice and providing a customer list. Evans asserts that she proactively informed her customers through personal communication and the farm's Facebook page.
While the incident has raised questions about the farm's ability to sell raw milk, Evans remains optimistic about the future of her business and appreciates the support from her loyal customers. She plans to introduce a sign-in sheet for customers at the self-serve farm stand and implement a recall action plan, despite it not being recommended by the state.
The farm will need to undergo two clear tests before resuming the sale of raw milk, and the samples from the positive test are currently stored on-site. Evans remains committed to maintaining the high quality of her herd and milk production and is determined to identify the source of the bacteria contamination.
Despite the challenges faced, Evans believes her family's dairy farm will overcome this setback with resilience and continue serving their community.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, Livestock, Dairy Cattle