SOP 409.03.08: Fruit Production

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area: `
`CORRECTIONS DIVISION/`
`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Reference Number: `
`IVM01-0008`|`Revises`
`Previous`
`Effective Date:`
`12/15/02`
|
|`Subject:`
`Fruit Production`|||
|`Authority:`
`DONALD/ADAMS`|
`9/01/04`|`Page``1`` of`
`4 `|

I. POLICY:

   GDC fruit operations shall generate products for institutional
   use in effort to meet the requirements of the Food Service
   Master Menu and shall endeavor to do so at a reasonable cost.

II. APPLICABILITY:

   All GDC farms with fruit operations.

III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:

   NONE

IV. DEFINITIONS:

   NONE

V. ATTACHMENTS:

   NONE

VI. PROCEDURE:

   A. Fruit Production:

      1. Fruit production operations function under the
         overall direction of the State Farm Administrator.
         The institutional farm manager is responsible for
         daily operations.

      2. Decisions regarding type of fruit to be grown,
         variety of fruit, number of trees/bushes/vines
         needed, and any other matters which will have an
         impact on production, shall be made only through
         consultation with the State Farm Administrator who

|Functional Area:
CORRECTIONS DIVISION/
FACILITIES OPERATIONS|Prev. Eff. Date:
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|`Functional Area:`
`CORRECTIONS DIVISION/`
`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
`9/01/04`|`Reference Number:`
`IVM01-0008`|

      will in turn consult with the Food and Farm Services
      Manager.

   3. Farm manager should endeavor to keep informed of
      advancements and improvements in fruit production
      through consultation with University of Georgia
      Cooperative Extension Service agents and
      specialists, attending any available related short      courses, and availing himself of any other available
      resource.

   4. Routine replacement of fruit trees/bushes/vines
      shall be with planting of the same variety only
      unless otherwise approved by the State Farm
      Administrator.

      a. Plants shall be purchased from reputable
         nurseries.

      b. Plants shall be certified to be disease free.

      c. Orders for plants shall be placed on a timely
         basis for correct and proper plantings.

B. Planning and Preparation Measures:

   1. Production levels and quality of fruit for a given
      year are heavily dependent on planning and
      preparation which must be a priority at the proper
      time.

   2. During September and October, separate soil samples
      will be taken from the area in which each variety of
      fruit is grown, and forwarded to the local county
      extension agent for analysis by the University of
      Georgia. These analyses and any resulting
      recommendations will become guidelines for soil
      amendments for the upcoming year.

   3. During June and July of each crop year, leaf samples
      will be obtained and forwarded to county extension
      director for analysis by the University of Georgia.
      These analyses will determine if appropriate
      fertilization levels are being obtained. If an
      analysis is unfavorable, University recommendations

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`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
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      will be followed to meet the fertilization
      requirements of each variety of fruit.

   4. Preplanning of needs for fertilizer, oils,
      fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides,
      and growth regulators is essential in order to
      follow proper purchasing procedures.

   5. A detail plan for each crop year will be forwarded
      to the State Farm Advisor.

C. Pruning:

   1. Blueberry bushes will have excessive growth of limbs
      and new shoot growth removed after harvest of
      blueberries has been completed in July.

D. Harvest:

   1. All farm staff shall be acutely aware of the
      importance of harvesting fruit crops in a timely
      manner. The timely and efficient harvest of fruit
      crops require a coordinated effort to insure
      adequate labor, supplies, and transportation are
      available each day. It is the responsibility of the
      institutional farm manager to coordinate these
      efforts.

      a. The farm manager should advise the
         institutional warden of anticipated labor needs
         a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the
         projected harvest date. After harvest begins,
         labor needs must be monitored daily by the farm
         manager to insure needs are met.

      b. An accurate inventory of supplies (i.e.
         packaging material, sugar, etc.) must be
         maintained at all times to insure harvesting
         needs are met.

   2. Blueberries and Strawberries:

      a. Upon maturity, berries are harvested and those
         to be used for Central Food Distribution are
         carried daily to the processing plant.

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`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
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`IVM01-0008`|

      b. Berries are de-stemmed, washed, placed in
         plastic bags. Blueberries are boxed to thirty
         pounds each; strawberries are boxed to twenty
         pounds each.

      c. Berries are returned to institution, placed in
         freezer, and delivered to the Central Food
         Distribution Unit in Milledgeville in truckload
         lots.

      d. Way bills are properly prepared and
         distributed.

      e. Berries for institutional fresh use are weighed
         and delivered to Food Service. Upon each
         delivery way bills are properly prepared and
         distributed.

E. Security:

   1. All farm staff in non-security positions shall be
      acutely aware of the need for inmate security at all
      times and shall support correctional officers in
      security-related functions if it is necessary for
      the maintenance of security. Said staff shall also
      observe all facility rules concerning security in
      all contexts, and shall seek clarification from
      supervisors or correctional officers when in doubt
      concerning some security aspect of the farm
      operation.

F. Safety:

   1. All equipment shall be operated and maintained in
      accordance with the federal government's
      Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
      rules and regulations.

   2. Before using equipment, inmates are to be instructed
      as to proper operation, maintenance, and service.

   3. Prior to applying chemicals, inmates are to be
      instructed in the safe methods of use, and are
      issued gloves, goggles, and other protective
      clothing as may be required. The federal Worker
      Protection Standard and OSHA rules and regulations

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`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
`9/01/04`|`Reference Number:`
`IVM01-0008`|

   regarding hazardous chemicals shall be assumed to
   apply.

4. A shower area is designated and maintained at all
   times for proper and adequate cleaning if so needed.

5. Weekly safety meetings pertaining to work area
   specific topics will be mandatory. A copy of the
   meeting minutes including list of attendees should
   be maintained on site for a period of two (2) years.

6. It will be the responsibility of all farm staff to
   monitor farm operations on a daily basis to insure
   the safety of both the staff and inmates assigned to
   this work area.