Michigan specialty crop growers are concerned state permitting delays will disrupt the ability to package their products this summer.
Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee President Chad Reenders tells Brownfield, “This past year, we’ve had multiple facilities reach out to our committee and others and say, listen, they’re denying our permits, we can’t operate down the road here very soon and we’re going to have to shut down.”
He says the Food Safety Modernization Act requires facilities to use water treatment additives as part of food safety protocols, but those products have been called into question as part of groundwater discharge permit renewals from the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
