Efficient and safe food handling for small scale vegetable farms

Efficient and safe food handling for small scale vegetable farms

Summary

We began implementing our efficient and safe food handling for small scale vegetable farms grant in April. We have connected with farms who feel they are efficient and shot video and gleaned information on their harvest wash and pack processes, as well as food safety. We have worked with some farms who felt like they would like to improve their efficiency and food safety. Farms have made improvements to their harvest wash and pack practices as we have offered suggestions on what has worked on other farms and what they feel will be beneficial for them. We have worked with farms to share information on GAP’s certification.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• We have identified 11 farms to work with. Shooting video, analyzing harvest efficiency and food safety practices, and collecting labor efficiency information.
  We have provided the farms with scrub brushes, nozzles and valves to help with efficiency and food safety.
  We have helped 3 farms modify their wash station to improve efficiency and food safety.
  We have held a GAPs information session at an area farm to share recources and information, we had a USDA inspector present to answer questions.
  We have assisted two farms with food safety plans in preparation for a GAPs audit.

Accomplishments/Milestones

As seen in objectives/performance targets we have been on track with our anticipated activities and goals. Shooting and editing video has been a learning experience. It has taken a good amount of time and will allow many folks to see ideas for better efficiency food safety than would have had a chance without them.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

• We are in the process of editing video shot on farms to share harvest, wash and pack options for small scale produce farms. We will also share helpful practices for GAPs certification. Videos will be posted on the Cornell small small farms and beginning farmer websites as well as others.

  We will be having a farmer meeting to show these videos and have farmers share information on techniques.

  We will be producing articles to share in small farms quarterly and produce news.

  We will be sharing videos at the NOFA conference in January.

  We will present videos and information at a farmer meeting in the Albany capitol region in February

  We are soliciting farms to offer assistance to small farmers in writing their fod safety plan.

Collaborators: