Bridging the GAPs through ‘Writing Your Farm Food Safety Plan’ Training
Sustainable Agriculture
Karen Cox
Extension Assistant Professor / County Agent
West Virginia University
Wheeling
Abstract
For producers to stay well-positioned in the market, they must understand food safety regulations, buyers’ demands, and consumers’ expectations, and comply with these requirements in a cost-effective manner. Failure of growers to be food safety compliant will result in increased vulnerability to food safety liability, loss of lucrative markets, or cause producers to exit the industry because of anxiety over the issue.
The WV Food Safety Training Initiative is an inter-agency partnership, to deliver food-safety training and producer assistance. Partners include WVU Extension Service, WVSU Extension, and the WV Department of Agriculture. Since 2016, we have trained 32 educators and over 400 producers in two critical areas: best management practices in food safety compliance (through the National Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Program) and integrating these recommendations into a holistic risk-mitigation decision-making tool. A survey of 152 past trainees showed 85% felt previous trainings sufficiently outlined food safety risks, but 91% requested practical ways to address these risks; 86% requested assistance with produce safety plans; and 90% requested a simpler approach to record-keeping.
‘Writing Your Farm Food Safety Plan,’ is a response to growers’ prioritized needs. We offered in person and online trainings that provided step-by-step instructions to help growers develop a customized action plan for their farm. The training focuses on documenting growers’ food safety compliance efforts and provides a fully customizable manual with templates for planning, record-keeping, standard operating procedures, and guidance for GAP certification and FSMA compliance. Growers have used it to help jump-start their food safety action plans, reduce paperwork duplication, and prepare for successful third-party audits. Through this program, we have successfully increased the number of GAP Certified Farms in WV by 383% since 2016. Moreover, 100% of trainees indicated this training increased farm efficiency, controlled costs, and mitigated risks. This training program is available through Extension Foundation’s online campus so other audiences may use it to adopt a holistic produce safety risk management program on their farms.
Authors: Karen Cox, Doolarie Singh-Knights
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Karen Cox Extension Assistant Professor / County Agent, West Virginia University, West Virginia, 26003
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Doolarie Singh-Knights Extension Specialist, West Virginia University, West Virginia, 26501