Which practice helps exclude and discourage pests around fresh produce production?

• A. Inspect all walls, doors, and windows
• B. Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible
• C. Deter birds from roosting in rafters with nets or spikes
• D. Cut grass around packing area

Answer: (A)

Preventing pests around fresh produce starts with solid physical barriers. Regularly inspecting all walls, doors, and windows is crucial because it reveals where pests could get inside—gaps around door frames, torn screens, cracked seals, misaligned thresholds, and holes around pipes or vents. By identifying these vulnerabilities, you can promptly seal and repair them, install proper door sweeps and screens, and ensure caulked joints and weather stripping create a continuous barrier. This proactive step makes it much harder for insects, rodents, and birds to enter production and packing areas, reducing contamination risk and protecting product quality. Keeping doors and windows closed helps, but if gaps exist, pests can still slip in. Deterring birds targets a specific pest, and cutting grass reduces outdoor habitat, but neither stops entry through building openings.