Design a short two-step protocol a small produce farm should follow to minimize pesticide-residue violations and align with federal oversight from farm to retail. Which two steps best synthesize agency roles and practical farm actions?

• A. Apply any pesticide at double the labeled concentration for faster degradation and then heat-treat produce before shipping to ensure residues fall under tolerances enforced by USDA.
• B. Cease all pesticide use entirely and rely solely on consumer washing at retail to remove residues, because EPA tolerances are advisory and responsibility shifts to buyers.
• C. Apply pesticides according to EPA-approved label instructions to meet established tolerances and maintain records; implement pre-harvest intervals and routine residue testing, then provide documentation to buyers so FDA enforcement at processing/retail can be supported if needed.
• D. Rely on the CDC to certify produce safety after harvesting, since CDC handles food safety education and will issue farm-level clearance certificates for retail distribution.

Answer: (C)