Traditionally, ornamental greenhouse sanitation was a term used to describe procedures to prevent plant pathogens from multiplying. This would typically include reducing algae, removing weeds from gravel or along sidewalls. Sweeping between crops and washing down growing space was regarded as taking extra measures. The goal was to remove plant pathogens and prevent their spread from plant to plant to prevent economic loss.
Other greenhouses, for vegetable production, have always had to consider the spread of human pathogens when sanitizing their facilities. With listeria, e-coli and salmonella as concerns, vegetable facilities have always had a different regimen. Protective clothing, sanitary foot baths, limited access and disinfection of the facility on regular schedules are standard operating procedure.
One the past few years, Dramm has promoted these procedures to ornamental facilities. While they have not had to deal with e-coli, many of these procedures are cost-effective and simple when considered for the prevention of plant diseases. Regular facility disinfection, disinfection of tools and equipment, cleaning of growing surfaces, water sanitation, these are all methods that are effective for the removal of both human and plant pathogens and good tools for all growers to utilize.
Now, we face a different pathogen. Ornamental and vegetable growers alike face the potential spread of COVID-19. With this pathogen, we are not as concerned with edible crops carrying pathogens but more about the surfaces that we contact both internally and externally.
In addition to the basic sanitary procedures listed above, growers are now fogging their trucks after they return from deliveries, foaming or spraying down their shipping carts after coming back from retail stores and disinfecting their break rooms, bathrooms and other common areas after work is done.
The good news is that many of the same tools used for plant protection and clean-out disinfection may be used for facility and equipment sanitation. The PulsFOG, used to apply pesticides to greenhouse crops or to apply post-harvest disinfectants, can also be used to fill truck trailers with disinfecting fog at the end of the day and left to sit until morning. The foamers used for algae control on benches and walls are also great to disinfect shipping carts. The high-pressure BP-4Li Backpack Sprayer can be used to spray down bathrooms. The Turbo ULV Hybrid, great for spot treatments, is also great for fogging break rooms and bathrooms. For garden centers, the same tools can be effective helping sanitize your facilities for customers. Shopping carts can be quickly sprayed down, just like shipping carts. Bathrooms can be fogged at regular intervals throughout the day.
Many of the tools we use to increase efficiency in spraying are also great at disinfecting. Additionally, some of the same chemistries we use regularly to control pathogens, erase algae and sanitize are also effective against COVID-19. Growers are finding these tools valuable as they search for methods to keep business running while minimizing risk.
Dramm has years of working in disinfection. From vegetable greenhouses to livestock barn, many of the tools used for spraying pesticides in the ornamental world are just as commonly used with disinfectants in food production. Just like in the ornamental world and pesticides, we are experienced in the use of different sanitizers. Our team is ready to help as you consider new procedures.
