A Comprehensive Assessment of Food Safety Practices Among Indoor Fresh Produce Growers in the United States

The rapid expansion of controlled environment agriculture offers new opportunities for sustainable, year-round fresh produce production, but indoor systems such as hydroponics and aquaponics also present unique, understudied food safety challenges. This study surveyed indoor produce growers across the United States to assess their food safety knowledge, training, and practices. Sixty-four growers participated, representing varied U.S. regions and production systems. Overall, respondents rated their food safety knowledge as high, especially in cleaning, sanitizing, and worker hygiene. However, important gaps emerged, including limited understanding of water quality, improper handling of soil amendments of animal origin, and insufficient strategies to prevent animal intrusion. Although most growers reported having a food safety plan (59/64, 92%) and a traceability system (60/64, 94%), some noted barriers such as limited time, lack of awareness, or uncertainty about requirements. These findings indicate that despite strong confidence in general food safety practices, indoor growers face implementation challenges in areas specific to indoor agriculture. Targeted training and technical support, particularly related to water management, soil amendments, and animal risk mitigation, are critical to reducing contamination risks and supporting the long-term safety of the indoor farming sector.