Summary: The objectives for this project were: 1. Gather pathogen testing data and information about mitigation measures from apple growers.2. Correlate pathogen levels in water used in fresh market apple production and packing operations at different points in the system to levels measured on apples before they leave the packinghouse. 3. Characterize potential exposure to pathogens from consumption of fresh market apples and describe potential human health effects associated with these exposure levels; combine the results to estimate the risk of becoming ill from eating contaminated apples. 4. Prepare a written risk assessment report about the findings of Objectives 1-3. 5. Submit the risk assessment model and report for review to an advisory panel consisting of the WTFRC, the Northwest Horticultural Council and other experts in the field of quantitative microbiological risk assessment.
