Know how. Know now.

Farm Food Safety Workshops Offered Across Nebraska in January and February

Fruit and vegetable growers, both large and small, are becoming increasingly aware of the food safety issues related to field-grown produce, and the importance of food safety to consumers. In January of 2011, President Barack Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act into law. This Act enhances the traceability of fresh produce grown in the United States, as well as create greater responsibility for food safety to producers. The bill requires producers to evaluate hazards to their products, take steps to prevent contamination and to develop written food safety plans. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, is helping producers meet the requirements of the new legislation.

The planned workshops will help fresh produce growers or farmer’s market managers complete the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training. The workshops will be held in January and February at five locations across the state. At the end of the workshop, participants will have a better understanding of GAPs, and how they can complete their own farm food safety plans.

The topics covered will help producers enhance worker sanitation, harvesting, handling, packaging, storage and transportation standards of fresh produce from the farm operation to markets, schools, restaurants, and retail stores. By completing a Farm Food Safety Plan, producers can differentiate themselves in the marketplace and appeal to many customers who perceive this training as an added benefit.

These one-day training sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a program cost of $65 per participant, which includes one set of handout materials and one lunch.  Additional participants from the same farm can register by paying the lunch fee, $10.00.  Please register one week prior to the desired training location. A $5 late fee will be charged for all registrations within one week of each training location date.

Reservations are required, and registrations for all training locations should be sent to the UNL Extension Office in Hall County. Please specify the training date and location that you plan to attend.

Please make all check payments out to the “University of Nebraska-Lincoln” when submitting the registration. Please mail all cash and check registrations to:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension – Hall County
3180 W. Highway 34
Grand Island, NE 68801-7279

For more information or to register please call UNL Extension—Hall County, (308) 385-5088. Funding is provided, in part, by the University of Nebraska Rural Futures Institute.