Local Farmstands Among Retail Food Stores to Have Critical Violations

Harbes Family Farmstands in Mattituck and Jamesport were among the local retail food stores to have critical violations over the past two years according to a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets database.

Recently, Newsday released its own database of Long Island retail food violations which showed that almost 100 markets have been cited for 1,050 inspection violations last year.

According to the State database, in October 2014, the Mattituck farmstand, located at 715 Sound Avenue, received two critical violations and 14 overall violations. In July 2014, the Jamesport farmstand, located at 1223 Main Road, received one critical violation and eight overall violations according to the database.

According to the database, both locations received the following violations:

• Insect, bird or other vermin observed within the establishment
• Handwashing facilities improperly installed or maintained
• Refuse containers not clean, covered, in good repair or removed at suffient intervals
• Food equipment improperly designed, constructed or maintained
• Insect, rodent, bird or vermin activity likely to result in product contamination
• Packaging materials unclean, improperly stored or handled in an insanitary manner
• Exterior of unsuitable construction or not in good physical repair

Additionally, the Mattituck location received the following violations:

• Storage cabinets or shelves not clean or in good repair
• Unused equipment or materials improperly store or in unclean condition
• Street clothing or soiled lined stored unsegregated from exposed or food-contact surfaces
• Interior floors, walls, ceilings or fixtures are not of suitable construction, clean or well maintained
• Employee handwashing facilities inadequate for establishments handling exposed food
• Establishment has insufficient space to accommodate operations
• Cleaning or sanitary equipment, materials, or agents not available, suitable or properly stored

In the Jamesport location, the database listed the following additional violations:

• Thermometers not provided where required
• Food not stored, conveyed or displayed in a manner that prevents contamination including marginal temperature deficiencies

“I was very disappointed to see those sorts of things highlighted,” Ed Harbes, owner of both farmstands, told The Suffolk Times. “We had reviewed the violations when they were issued. Most of the things were remedied quite a while ago, but some of the things pertain to just general difficulties pertaining to outdoor facilities, such as flies or dust. I can’t say we’ve completely eliminated flies or dust, but we’re doing everything in our power to have a clean, safe, enjoyable facility. We do take our role in serving the customer very seriously and we’re going to do everything we can to maintain their confidence.”

Photo: Google Maps