Good Agricultural Practices Training for Master Gardener Volunteers Donating Produce
Extension Education
Ashley Kulhanek
County Extension Educator - Agriculture and Natural Resources
OSU Extension
Medina
Abstract
Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) across Ohio play a key role in growing and donating fresh produce through community, school, and Extension-led garden projects. In 2023, The Ohio State University implemented a policy requiring Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training for all individuals involved in university-affiliated food donation efforts. To address this need, OSU Extension developed a GAPs training program for MGVs. The program included new content for the MGV Training Manual as well as an in-person or recorded webinar presentation. A retrospective pre-then-post evaluation was conducted with MGVs who completed the training to gauge their perceived knowledge gains and intended behavior changes related to produce safety. A total of 282 volunteers from 43 counties responded to the survey. Participants represented a wide range of ages and years of service, though most respondents were female and had at least five years of MGV experience. Survey results show clear increases in self-reported knowledge across all GAPs topic areas, including clean water use, hygiene practices, soil amendments, and identifying risks in garden settings. Many MGVs reported that the training improved their ability to address food safety concerns, provided useful resources, and would influence future decision making in the garden. Participants also expressed intentions to apply what they learned in community, school, personal, and Extension-affiliated gardens. Preliminary findings demonstrate that the GAPs training effectively increased awareness of produce safety risks and strengthened MGVs’ confidence in using safe gardening practices. These efforts supported the MGVs safe donation of more than 161,000 pounds of produce in 2025. Continued evaluation will help refine curriculum and identify additional training needs to best support MGVs in their food donation efforts.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Ashley Kulhanek, Beth scheckelhoff
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Kulhanek, A. County Extension Educator - Agriculture and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 44256
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scheckelhoff, B. County Extension Educator - Agriculture and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 45875