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Preparing small and mid-size growers of fruits and vegetables for on-farm food safety certification

Preparing small and mid-size growers of fruits and vegetables for on-farm food safety certification

Summary/Abstract

A series of highly publicized multistate outbreaks of food-borne disease over the last five years have been traced to contaminated fresh produce. Follow-up investigations have consistently documented unsanitary field or packinghouse conditions. To assure a safer food supply, commercial buyers of fresh produce are increasingly demanding, as a condition of purchase, that suppliers develop a food safety plan documenting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and that they submit to a fee-based independent, third-party farm inspection (TPC) as evidence of GAP compliance.

This project focuses on growers who sell produce to wholesale markets in Pennsylvania. Grocery store chains who buy from local growers are providing the contact information to target these suppliers. Educational resources and a food safety template, based on the USDA GAPs audit program for produce growers, will focus on how to document GAP compliance through a written plan and steps necessary to attain TPC. Both training and technical assistance will be offered.

Leadership. Co-PIs Joan Thomson and Luke LaBorde collaborate to strengthen the economic viability of local food systems, developing educational resources and curricula based on audience assessments. Dr. LaBorde is the primary Pennsylvania contact for on-farm food safety.


Objectives/Performance Targets

Milestones/Performance targets

Milestone 1: Build communication pathways and increase awareness
Year 1
Form a Project Advisory Committee of growers, USDA/PDA auditors, grocers, and extension educators to receive updates on the progress of the project and to obtain feedback on the program. Develop and distribute GAP educational brochures, write articles in newsletters, and deliver presentations at grower meetings and workshops to the 1700 known produce growers who are members of the State Horticulture and Vegetable Growers Associations. PFMA and PDA will be regularly updated about training plans who, in turn, will communicate this information to their grower suppliers.

Milestone 2: Workshops and educational resources
Mid-year 1 – Year 2
Finalize and field test a GAP template plan, based on the USDA audit standards, to help growers systematically organize and document procedures required in the USDA audit which will minimize audit fees by increasing inspection efficiencies. Deliver 12 GAP workshops to a total of 600 growers who have immediate or near-term TPC requirements.

Milestone 3: Continued technical assistance and research Year 2 –Year 3
Supplement formal training on USDA GAP requirements and procedures with farm site visits through Penn State Extension. Analyze workshop evaluation data and survey growers on harvesting and packing practices to re-focus our training efforts

Performance target: 1700 Pennsylvania produce growers will receive GAP educational information. 600 will attend GAP workshops and 300 will write a food safety plan. 150 will submit to and pass a USDA GAP audit.






Project Content Page

2009 Proposal

Project Number: ENE09-113
Type: Professional Development Program
Region: Northeast
SARE Grant: $162,119

Coordinator:
Joan Thomson
Professor Emerita of Agricultural Communications
Penn State University
209B Ferguson
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-3825
E-mail: jst3@psu.edu

Participants:
 

Peggy Fogarty-Harnish
Farm Food Safety Educator
Penn State Extension
1383 Arcadia Road, Room 140
Lancaster , PA 17601
Phone: (717)733-0522
E-mail: pfogharn@psu.edu

Luke LaBorde
Associate Professor of Food Science
Penn State University
442 Food Science Building
Universirty Park , PA 16802
Phone: (814)863-2298
E-mail: lfl5@psu.edu

Roshan  Nayak
Doctoral Student
Penn State University
12 Ferguson Building
University Park , PA 16802
Phone: (254)979-4561
E-mail: rkn112@psu.edu

Rama Radhakrishna
Professor of Agricultural & Extension Education
Penn State University
102 Ferguson Building
University Park , PA 16802
Phone: (814)863-7069
E-mail: brr100@psu.edu

Jeff Stoltzfus
Farm Food Safety Educator
280 Lenover Road
Atglen , PA 19310
Phone: (717) 354-1522
E-mail: jeff_stoltzfus@elanco.org

Daniel Tobin
Doctoral candidate
Penn State University
12 Ferguson
University Park , PA 16802
Phone: (215)622-5874
E-mail: dbt127@psu.edu
This project and all associated reports and support materials were supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.