Progress 02/15/15 to 02/14/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences in this period have been practitioner, academic, and, more specifically, farmer oriented including one peer-reviewed article in the Food Protection Trends journal of the International Association for Food Protection, and one article in review for the the jounral Food Control. Both of these have wide readership in academic and professionals in the food safety community. In addition, each Co-PI at subaward institutions have continued to take our findings to their Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) training seminars. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate Student Utter has continued working with members of New England CSREES team members. In addition, GRA Utter has had the opportunity to expand her skillset in the classroom as a TA during the last project year. Key Personnel Florence Becot has continued to expand her graduate experience at the Ohio State University's Rural Sociology Program. PD Parker has worked closely with these two students on writing up the results of their respective project components for peer-review publication. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Details of the survey findings have made it to the produce safety training curriculum among each of the subaward states. We have not yet completed the Extension and Outreach parts of the project that will further disseminate our results. We have, however, taken concrete steps to share the outputs of our work with professional, practitioner, and academic audiences by carefully choosing journals with aims and scopes, and readerships, well beyond academic circles. The Itnernational Society for Food Protection's Food Protection Trends publishes timely, state of the art informaiton in this area. The journal Food Control likewise has a similar mission. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this period of transition, Graduate Student Alisha Utter at the University of Vermont (Department of Plant and Soil Science) continued the work of completing the third phase of Objective 1, farmer interview protocol that was developed by PD Parker and Graduate Student Utter. This work elicit farmer perceptions and attitudes regarding regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and midsized produce growers, scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards, expenses on food safety practices and educational needs for implementing the standards taught during the Produce Safety Alliance trainings. A total of 35 interviews were completed, which is less than anticipated. We found that the topic of produce safety has become a very sensitive on in the nine years since the PD started working in this area and farmers are more reluctant to share their details now that the regulatory climate has moved from uncertainty and potential regulation, to certainty of regulation. The details of this change in perception are themselves interesting and will be considered as we finalize our Extension work.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Lori F. Pivarnik, Nicole L. Richard, Diane Wright-Hirsch, Florence Becot, David Conner, Jason Parker. Food Protection Trends, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 156-170, May 2018
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Becot, Florence, Jason Parker, David Conner, Diane Hirsch, Nicole Richard, Amanda Kinchla, Jason Bolton, and Heather Bryant. Willing and Able? Food Safety Investments among New England (USA) Produce Growers. In review for Food Control.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Food Safety Among Small and Medium Sized New England Produce Farmers. In preparation based on interviews conducted in early 2018 among New England produce growers.
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Progress 02/15/17 to 02/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience for this period has been research among produce farmers and consumers to discuss perceptions of produce safety practices as they relate to small and medium scale farms. We completed a consumer survey of food safety perceptions and knowledge among New England households and are mid-way toward completion of in-depth interviews with produce growers in each of six New England states. Changes/Problems:Two major changes have occurred on the project and are described below. 1. Project Award is changing institutions. PI Parker changed institutions in late summer of 2017 at which time the project funds were stopped to facilitate the relinquishment and transfer from the University of Vermont to the Ohio State University, the PI's new institution. We intended to begin developing and testing an enhanced food safety education program designed for exempt farms that will support New England's food system at two levels, but have postponed this as a result of the long period of transition. To accommodate the schedule of our farmers who are unavailable in spring and summer, their growing season, we will take this up in the late summer and fall of 2018, pending our no-cost extension request being approved. At that point, we will complete this component of our work that will mark the conclusion of Objective 4 2. Our Co-PI and PD for the University of New Hampshire is retiring. Co-PI Catherine Violette has retired from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. She facilitated a transition of the UNH PD role to KP Heather Bryant. PD Bryant has been with the project since its inception as a regionally funded planning grant and is well positioned to accomplish the goals of the project for New Hampshire. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate Student Utter has developed competency in several social science data collection and analysis methods as part of her independent study in dissertation research methods training. These include interview and survey protocol development and the analysis of qualitative interview transcripts and quantitative survey data. Key Personnel Florence Becot has expanded her graduate experience (she is a new graduate student in the Ohio State University's Rural Sociology Program) and methods expertise in taking the lead in conducting and analyzing the New England consumer phone survey. These new and enhanced skills integrate multiple methods of inquiry into a mixed-method framework and are critical for new graduates to meet the challenges of today's complex issues. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The farmer produce safety knowledge survey findings have been shared with Extension in each New England state for dissemination in workshops and seminars through the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) annual meetings and webinars. One publication was accepted and is in press and another in review; both are listed in the products section of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will complete the remaining in-depth farmer interviews and full analysis of the transcripts, which will mark the end of Objective 1 data collection. We will continue to analyze the survey data from the New England consumer survey and develop metrics from it for our regional IMPLAN economic modelling (Objective 3). In addition, we will identify salient variables from the farmer knowledge survey and in-depth interviews to frame other aspects of the IMPLAN modelling. We will bring together data from each objective to finish Objective 4, the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) curriculum training enhancements that integrate expert and small and medium-sized farmer understandings and knowledge as well as market information incentives for New England produce growers. We intend to prepare the results of the farmer and consumer interviews for analysis and draft preliminary works for publication. A summary of our ambitious list of products include the following: Outreach articles: 3, one based on farmer perceptions and economic considerations for produce safety training, one based on consumer demand and perceptions for produce safety qualities of foods, one derived from the IMPLAN regional economic modelling highlighting consumer confidence in GAP and other food safety qualities or indicators and willingness to pay for them. Academic articles: 3, one based on farmer perceptions and economic considerations of produce safety and produce safety training by PI Parker and GRA Utter; one using findings from the consumer demand and perceptions of produce safety by PI Parker, Co-PI Conner, and KP Becot; one derived from output and theoretical and practical implications of the IMPLAM regional economic modelling findings by Co-PI Conner and KP Becot. One curriculum enhancement guide for farmer produce safety training will be produced by Co-PIs Pivarnik, Bolton, Kinchla, Bryant, Hirsh, PI Parker, and Consultant Bell. There will be at least 2 additional publications, one outreach and one academic, using our outcomes and outputs of the curriculum development exercises. These two publications will likely be completed after the grant has expired, yet are likely to be the two most important publications that we will produce. We have 10 dedicated personnel on this project who will collaborate in groups to accomplish these objectives and publication schedule.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project is progressing well. There are two publications to report, one is due soon and the other is in review. We have a list of accomplishments from our data collection and analysis efforts that inform subsequent steps of the project. They include: 1. Co-PI Pivarnik and Co-PI Hirsch lead an analysis of data collected during the first phase of Objective 1, the farmer produce safety knowledge assessment survey of New England produce growers. This analysis appears in the first peer-review publication listed under Products. Under the direction of KP Becot, PI Parker, and Co-PI Conner, a statistical analysis was conducted using the economic portion of the survey and a paper was drafted for review. Two publications will come from this, one is in press. 2. The second phase of Objective 1, expert interview protocol, was completed with 10 produce safety experts from various regions in the U.S. PD Parker and Graduate Student Utter elicited expert information on regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and mid-sized produce growers, and scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. Preliminary analysis provided valuable input for the farmer produce safety interviews and the consumer produce safety telephone survey. 3. The third phase of Objective 1, farmer interview protocol, was developed by PD Parker and Graduate Student Utter and has received IRB approval in December 2016. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. This will elicit farmer perceptions and attitudes regarding regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and mid-sized produce growers, and scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards, and educational needs for implementing the standards taught during the Produce Safety Alliance trainings. We anticipate beginning interviews in February 2017. 4. Our regional consumer telephone survey protocol (Objective 2) was completed and received IRB approval in February 2017. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. The telephone survey was conducted by KP Becot and completed in March 2017 with 402 participants. KP Becot, PI Parker and Co-PI Conner are currently analyzing data from this survey and preparing it for publication.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
In Press (Accepted 7 Nov 2017). L. Pivarnik, N. Richard, D. Wright-Hirsch, F. Becot, D. Connor, and J. S. Parker. Small and medium scale New England produce growers knowledge, attitudes and implementation of on-farm food safety. Food Protection Trends.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
In Review. F. Becot, J. S. Parker, D. Conner. Small and Medium Scale Produce Growers Willingness and Ability to Invest In Food Safety Practices in the United States. Food Control.
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Progress 02/15/16 to 02/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience for this period has been research among produce farmers and industry experts to discuss perceptions of produce safety practices as they relate to small and medium scale farms. We completed a farmer knowledge assessment survey and completed interviews with experts outside of our research group and advisory committee and are in the process of contacting farmers and consumers to begin interviews. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate Student Utter participated in a produce safety training to increase her understanding of the curriculum and materials used for training operators of small and medium sized farms in New England. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The produce safety knowledge survey findings have been shared with Extension in each New England state for dissemination in workshops and seminars. Publications are forthcoming. In addition, preliminary work has been shared through the Northeast Center to Advance Produce Safety (NECAFS). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will complete the in-person farmer interviews and consumer telephone interviews and analyze the data. The farmer knowledge assessment survey findings are being prepared for publication and dissemination to stakeholder groups by way of fact sheets and workshop materials, and academic publication in peer-review journals. We intend to prepare the results of the farmer and consumer interviews for analysis and draft preliminary works for publication. A summary of forthcoming products include: Outreach articles: 2, one based on farmer produce safety knowledge and one on produce safety economic analysis Academic articles: 2, one based on farmer produce safety knowledge and one on produce safety economic analysis It is too early to project the number of outputs from the work in progress. In late summer and fall of 2017 we will begin developing and testing an enhanced food safety education program designed for exempt farms that will support New England's food system at two levels: 1. It will help ensure the safety of locally produced and processed food products, which is critical to protecting the region's reputation and markets, as well as the health of consumers; 2. By implementing food safety practices now, small produce growers will be prepared for scaling-up to larger operations that may cause them to fall under FSMA regulations. We are consulting with Adult Learning expert Sandy Bell to facilitate curriculum enhancement focus groups and workshops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project is progressing well. There are no publications to report, but we have a list accomplishments from our data collection and analysis efforts that inform subsequent steps of the project. They include: 1. The University of Rhode Island Co-PIs completed the initial phase of Objective 1, the farmer produce safety knowledge assessment survey of New England produce growers. Survey respondents included N=317 New England farmers with the following breakdown: small farms N=254; medium farms: N=47; large farms: N=16 (the large farms were not used in the data analysis since they are outside the scope of the project). Farmers from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, & VT participated in the survey. We used a dual media approach of a mail survey guide and an online counterpart. This two media approach will allowed us to access farmers who have adopted electronic communication while also contacting those who prefer email. Co-PI Pivarnik and Co-PI Hirsch administered the survey with support from KP Richard and are analyzing the data for publication and stakeholder outreach. Co-PI Conner and KP Becot assisted in developing the economic portion of the survey and are in the process of analyzing that data. 2. The expert interview protocol was completed with 10 produce safety experts from various regions in the U.S. PD Parker and Graduate Student Utter elicited expert information on regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and mid-sized produce growers, and scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. Preliminary analysis provided valuable input for the farmer produce safety interviews and the consumer produce safety telephone survey. 3. The farmer interview protocol was developed by PD Parker and Graduate Student Utter and has received IRB approval in December 2016. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. This will elicit farmer perceptions and attitudes regarding regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and mid-sized produce growers, and scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards, and educational needs for implementing the standards taught during the Produce Safety Alliance trainings. We anticipate beginning interviews in February 2017. 4. Our regional consumer telephone survey protocol was completed and received IRB approval in February 2017. Protocol review was provided by Co-PIs and KPs from each state. The telephone survey will begin in early March 2017 and be conducted by Co-PI Conner in collaboration with Key Personnel Becot at the Center for Rural Studies (KP Becot's position is partially funded through this grant). 5. New England Produce Safety Coalition (NEPSC, the name of our research and Extension team on this project) team members collaborated with other produce safety experts and stakeholders in the Northeast region to receive funding under the leadership of PD Chris Callahan for the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) and participated in their first annual meeting January 9 to 11, 2017, in Boston, MA.
Publications
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Progress 02/15/15 to 02/14/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience for this period has been research and industry experts to discuss perfecptions of produce safety practices as they relate to small and medium scale farms. This is an initial step in identifying expertise outside of our research group and advisory committee. Changes/Problems:We had a delay in receiving the funding from USDA that lasted for several months with little feedback from our contact person after submitting the requested information. This process lasted much longer than anticipated and significanlty contributed to the delay in starting our work. The delay is likely to work in our favor because the timing of project activities is again in alignment with farmer growing schedules and availability. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We recenlty hired a Graduate student, Alisha Utter, as a MS/PhD student in Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont. Student Utter will work under the direction of PI Parker on various aspects of the project including interview protocol and IRB application development, facilitating recruitment and conducting interviews, and data coding and analysis. In conjunction with other PIs, Student Utter will participate in both lay and academic publication outputs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Each of the above three activities outlined above are designed to inform our interviews and interactions with produce growers that will occur in the Fall 2016. In spring 2017 we will begin developing and testing an enhanced food safety education program designed for exempt farms that will support New England's food system at two levels: It will help ensure the safety of locally produced and processed food products, which is critical to protecting the region's reputation and markets, as well as the health of consumers; By implementing food safety practices now, small produce growers will be prepared for scaling-up to larger operations that may cause them to fall under FSMA regulations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project is progressing well despite the significant six-month funding delay from USDA and subsequent subaward delays (there are some Co-PDs who were not able to begin work on a project without prior receipt of their subaward). There are no publications to report, but we have a list of in-progress items that represent preliminary data collection efforts to inform the project. They include: As of November 10, 2015, all 5 subawards are processed and the initial phase of the project was allowed to begin. Our Rhode Island subawardee will conduct the first phase of the project, but funding delays from USDA made it necessary to delay our work until August when it seemed clear the money would be available and staff could put time on the project. Since processing the University of Rhode Island subaward on September 2, we began implementing the initial phases of Objective 1, beginning with a knowledge assessment survey of New England produce growers. Names and contact information are being collected to develop mailing lists of 250 to 350 produce growers in each of the six New England states (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, & VT). A draft survey instrument and protocol was developed between August and October and refined in December. These materials have received IRB approval. We revised the survey guide and amended the protocol with IRB with more specific questions and for developing an online counterpart to the mail survey. This two media approach will allow us to access farmers who have adopted electronic communitaction while also contacting those who prefer mail correspondence. The survey will be implemented near the end of February, 2016. Our regional consumer survey is in development. It will be conducted by Co-PI Conner in collaboration with Key Personnel Becot at the Center for Rural Studies (KP Becot's position is partially funded through this grant). The interview protocol is being developed by PD Parker and Co-PI Nickerson with Gradueate Student Utter to elicit expert information on regional food system needs, barriers to GAP adoption among small and mid-sized produce growers, and scale-appropriate technologies for achieving produce safety standards. This will be submitted to IRB in early December. We anticipate beginning interviews in late February 2016.
Publications
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