Food Safety & Disclaimers
Last updated: October 2026
Please read this page before eating, storing or using anything you buy from Poe's Little Farm. By purchasing from us or visiting our farm, you agree to follow the safety guidance below.
1. Wash all produce before eating
Our fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown outdoors in soil and are exposed to weather, insects, birds and wildlife. Unless we tell you otherwise, produce is not washed, sanitized or processed before sale.
• Rinse all produce under cool running water just before eating, cutting or cooking — even if you plan to peel it.
• Do not use soap, detergent or bleach on produce.
• Scrub firm produce such as cucumbers, potatoes and melons with a clean produce brush. Remove the outer leaves of lettuce and other leafy greens.
• Dry with a clean towel or paper towel, and wash your hands for 20 seconds before and after handling fresh produce.
2. Storage and handling
• Refrigerate lettuce, leafy greens, most fresh herbs and peppers promptly. Basil, eggplant and cucumbers keep best in a cool spot on the counter; use them within a few days. Store whole garlic, onions and potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place.
• Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked produce within 2 hours (1 hour if it is above 90°F).
• Keep produce away from raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, and use separate cutting boards.
• Discard produce that is moldy, slimy, rotting or smells off. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Fresh produce is perishable — use it within a few days for best quality and safety.
3. If you are at higher risk of foodborne illness
Even when grown with care, raw produce can carry bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. People at higher risk of serious illness include pregnant women, infants and young children, adults 65 and older, and anyone with a weakened immune system (for example from cancer treatment, an organ transplant, HIV, or immune-suppressing medications).
• If you are in one of these groups, wash produce well, skip raw sprouts, and ask your doctor if you need extra precautions. Cooking produce thoroughly lowers the risk further.
• Talk with your doctor about any dietary restrictions before eating fresh produce, herbs, mushrooms or fish.
4. Garlic and herbs stored in oil
Garlic and herbs stored in oil at room temperature can allow the bacteria that cause botulism to grow. Never store garlic- or herb-in-oil at room temperature. Refrigerate homemade mixtures and use them within 4 days, or freeze them.
5. Hot peppers
Wear gloves when cutting hot peppers and avoid touching your eyes or face. Capsaicin can burn skin and eyes. Wash hands and surfaces afterward, and keep hot peppers away from children and pets.
6. Mushroom logs and homegrown mushrooms
• Eat only mushrooms you can positively identify as the variety on your log (shiitake or oyster). Other fungi — including poisonous ones — can grow on logs outdoors. If you are not 100% sure, do not eat it.
• Always cook mushrooms thoroughly. Eating raw or undercooked shiitake can cause an itchy skin rash (shiitake dermatitis) in some people.
• Some people are allergic or sensitive to mushrooms or their spores. Stop eating them and seek care if you have a reaction.
• Mushroom yields depend on weather and care, and are not guaranteed.
7. Eggs (coming in the future)
Farm eggs are coming in the future. When we offer them: SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS — To prevent illness from bacteria: keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.
8. Pond fishing and eating your catch
• Fishing at our pond is at your own risk. Banks can be slippery and uneven and the water is deep. No swimming or wading.
• Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Use care with hooks, knives and fishing gear.
• Keep your catch on ice and clean it promptly. Cook fish to an internal temperature of 145°F, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
• Pregnant or nursing women and young children should follow current FDA and EPA advice about eating fish.
• Follow all applicable Ohio fishing rules. We may ask anglers to sign a release before fishing.
9. Plants and flowers are not food
Ornamental plants, flowers, cut flowers, bulbs, seeds and nursery stock are not for eating unless they are clearly sold as an edible crop. Many common garden plants — including hydrangeas, clematis, hostas, lilies, daffodils, foxglove and citrus foliage — can be harmful to people, dogs, cats or horses if chewed or eaten.
• Keep plants out of reach of young children and pets.
• Some plants and sap can irritate skin or trigger allergies. Wear gloves when handling plants, soil and fertilizer.
• Suspected poisoning in a person: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency. For pets, call your veterinarian.
10. How we grow
Poe's Little Farm is not a certified organic farm. When we describe a seed or seed stock as organic, that refers to the seed source. We may use crop-protection products, including OMRI-listed products, and we follow label directions. Ask us any time what was used on a specific item.
11. Recalls and safety notices
We watch for food safety recalls from the FDA, USDA and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and for recalls from our seed and supply companies. If we learn that something we sold is affected by a recall or safety issue, we will post a notice here and contact customers we can identify.
• Current notices: none at this time.
• For current national food recalls, visit FoodSafety.gov. For recalls on planters, décor, tools and other products, visit CPSC.gov.
• If you become ill after eating any food, contact your healthcare provider first, then let us know so we can check our records.
12. Information on this website
Growing guides, care notes, harvest and availability dates, and other information on this site are general information for Northwest Ohio (USDA Zone 6b), shared in good faith. Results depend on weather, soil, care and other factors outside our control. Plant size, color, bloom time and yield vary, and some photos are representative stock images rather than the exact item you will receive.
13. Not medical advice
Nothing on this website is medical, nutritional, veterinary or legal advice, and we make no health claims about any product. Talk with a qualified professional about your own situation.
14. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by Ohio law, Poe's Little Farm LLC is not responsible for illness, injury, loss or damage resulting from the washing, storage, handling, preparation or use of products after they leave our farm, or from not following the guidance on this page. See also our Terms & Conditions and Refund Policy.
Questions about any product? Email info@poeslittlefarm.com — Poe's Little Farm LLC, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.