Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audience for this grant project was the farmers covered by the FSMA rule and those that are exempt from the rule but need to understand it. Specifically, we focused on work with immigrant and minority farmers who are traditionally underserved by outreach efforts from our state regulatory and education teams. The outreach also focused those who are exempt, qualified exempt by the FSMA PSR, but who are asked about the rule by potential buyers and markets. The other key audience was the non-profit educators, agricultural professionals and others that have an interest in working with farmers to help them understand the FSMA produce safety rule. Many of these audience made up our advisory board, and the members of the board were the key communicators to the farmers and agencies and organizations that worked with them.? Changes/Problems:Language barriers was one of the most common problem in this project. The language of the PSR is dense and complicated, and translating it can be very difficult. There is just no language equivalent to many of the words. Spanish is easier than Hmong, but still can be a challenge. We worked to overcome this challenge by hiring translators to translate the FSMA video into Spanish and Hmong. We also hired translators for the Hmong-language FSMA training, the first of its kind in the nation. Time and ability to prioritize learning about FSMA is another large challenge for the train-the-trainer portion of the project. Non-profits, Extension staff, agricultural educators and others who might be well-suited to provide information to farmers about the FSMA rule state that there are many other topics that they must provide education on, and FSMA is not a high priority. Other organizations continue to see UMN Extension Food Safety Team as the experts on GAPs and FSMA, and sometimes hesitate to take on this information and understand and learn it. They would rather have farmers turn to the UMN, or they think the information is not relevant to the farmers they work with. Farmers themselves do not have time to dedicate to learning about FSMA, especially in a difficult drought year such as MN had during the summer of 2021. Small growers are struggling to make money at the farming operations, so learning about this rule is not seen as a high priority often. Food safety in general is not something that makes people want to show up to a field day or meeting - we need to couple it with other topics often to get good turnout. The COVID pandemic made in-person meetings impossible, and the majority of 2020 meetings had to be online. Finally, the FSMA PSR is not final in two key areas - biological soil amendments of animal origin and water testing. Since the FDA has not finalized these key areas, it is difficult to provide completely accurate and finalized information to growers, since the information might change. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Along with a colleague from ISU, the team led a session in Wisconsin that was a Train the Trainer opportunity for WI Extension staff on how to write food safety plans, and used the newly developed Food Safety Plan Template that is aligned with the PSR. Team members were able toattendthe Produce Safety Alliance Advanced Training in Lake Alfred Florida Jan 27-31, 2020. Provided training to non profit leaders and farmers who wanted professional development in food safety, GAPs and the FSMA PSR via workshops hosted in MN, and attendance at National GAPs Program course through Cornell University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project worked with communities in bothin-person workshops and online. The videos have been sent out widely via partner organizations. The modified labeling and info on food hubs and qualified end users was provided in person and online via list servs. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1) Identify the specific food safety training and educational needs of produce farmers in Minnesota via a needs assessment with key stakeholder partners and input from a project advisory board; TheAdvisory group for this project met throughout the entire project to guide activities. Members also provided case-by-case guidance on thoughts related to the needs of immigrant and minority farmers and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.The team reviewed content, provided feedback on the needs of the farmers that they work with including translation and outreachto underserved farms, and provided forums to share this information, by pulling together their farmers for training sessions. The members were able to promote the Amish and Hmong-language FSMA PSR training that were hosted. Goal 2) Update all existing GAPs training and food safety plan template materials to ensure they are consistent with new FSMA PSR guidelines; Updated "The Produce Safety Rule: How it applies to your farm" 3 page factsheet of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and the status categories of excluded, exempt or fully covered to ensure it contained the most current FSMA PSR language. Updated GAPs curriculum for non-regulatory trainings with new FSMA info, including links to new resources available to understand the rule and what it means for a farm. Updated "Labeling and Signage Requirements for Qualified Exempt Farms". 2 page factsheet summarizing labeling and signage for farms who are eligible for a qualified exemption from the FSMA PSR with photos. Goal 3) Create new culturally-appropriate FSMA PSR educational materials for Hmong, Latino, Tribal and Amish, small-acreage and diverse farmers such as short videos, factsheets; Funds were used to produce a video about the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and if it applies to your farm (over 1500 viewson YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt4G1AH7bhA&t=4s Hired a videographer and Hmong and Spanish translators to translate this previously created FSMA video about status questions, so that all growers can understand their coverage under the FSMSA PSR. This The video was distributed to partners via list serves, email and through the advisory board. https://youtu.be/XLRKoDU_nno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cgf-AHWaFU&feature=youtu.be Translated 9 fact sheets from English into Spanish and Hmong to support FSMA Produce Safety Rule and GAPs implementation on the farm for all farmers. We used grant dollars to hire professional translators. These have been distributed to partners and via our website and on national sites.All translated factsheets can be accessed here: https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/food-safety-fact-sheets/home "What is a GAP audit? Do I need one for my farm?" "Water testing for the FSMA Produce Safety Rule" "Sanitation and safety for toilets on the farm" "Post-harvest wash water sanitation for fruit and vegetable farms" "How and why to test your farm's water" "How to build a low-cost handwashing station" "Labeling and signage rules for qualified exempt farms" "The Produce Safety Rule: How it applies to your farm" "Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces" 4. Hired a contractor from Iowa State University to update the Food Safety Plan 4 U document (food safety plan template) to align it with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The updates can be found here on our website. https://extension.umn.edu/safety/growing-safe-food#plan-templates-and-log-sheets-1355910 5. Funds were used to purchase Amish-focused materials from Penn state for Amish focused FSMA training. The attendees at this training said that simple English language materials was desired. At this training, we utilized these simple English manuals, and the participants were allowed to bring them home. Materials were found here: https://extension.psu.edu/amish-farm-food-safety-curriculum-materials Goal 4) Expand GAPs workshops using new curricula to new audiences, including non-traditional farmer audiences such as Hmong, Latino, Tribal and Amish farmers; The following culturally specific FSMA and GAPs trainings were held: 3 hour online training with New Roots incubator farmer cooperative. (8 farmer participants, translated into Nepalese.) on March 27, 2021 16 hour online Hmong language FSMA training for 12 Hmong farmers with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on March 31-April 2, 2021 This training was the first Hmong language pilot FSMA training course in the nation and the first to test PSA's draft alternate language policy allowing delivery of the PSA curriculum in language other than English, Spanish or Chinese. 8 hour FSMA training for Amish farmers along with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for 15 Amish farms on April 14th, 2021, St. James, MN. Half day GAPs training and field day with Fond du Lac tribal member farmers (22 farmers) April 24, 2021, Brainerd, MN. 8 hour food safety training with Hmong farmers, May 6th, Big River Farms, Stillwater, MN 2.Hosted the following trainings that were available to all growers, including many small to mid-sized operations: March 19, 2021 Online half day GAPs English language training, (22 farmer participants) participants) November 19th 2020 (Water and GAPs short session, 51 farmer participants) Dec 17th 2020 (Animals and GAPs short session, 67 participants) Jan 21 2021 (Packshed design GAPs short session, 61 participants) Feb 18th 2021 (Safely using manure GAPs short course, 72 participants) March 4th 2021 (Schoolyard Garden Conference Food Safety Talk) 32 participants March 18th 2021 (GAP audit and FSMA short session), 50 farmer participants Aug 23 GAPs Field day about using manure safely Maple Ridge Produce (24 participants) 3.In 2020, since COVID-19 became a serious issues for all farmers, we created a series of 5 videos about COVID-19 on the farm and translated them into Hmong and Spanish. They can be seen here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcXxBuLJhm42lVYDqozerEUWNK5xMbM8Y Goal 5) Develop a train-the-trainer program, workshops and materials for farmers markets and market managers, buyers like distributors and food hubs, Extension educators and agricultural service organizations such as non-profits and farm insurance organizations that serve farmers to ensure an accurate understanding of FSMA and GAPs concepts. The team provided a series of trainings to those that work with farmers, including MN Farmers Market Association and farmers market managers on modified labeling requirements for qualified exemptions at their annual conference, foodservice buyers at Minnesota School Nutrition Association annual conference; and via the webinars listed above. We developed a factsheets summary of the Modified Labeling Requirements and hosted an online webinar for farmers, market managers, non-profit educators, UMN extension and farmers about this portion of the FSMA PSR We created an Employee Training guide for small, immigrant and minority farmers at Big River Farms, and provided a training utilizing this guide. This guide was meant to be a sample training agenda for farmers who need to comply with the FSMA rule. Multiple GAPs trainings had staff from organizations, providing information to these key personnel on food safety and FSMA.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audience for this grant project during the Sept 1 2019 - Aug 1 2020 phasewas the farmers and non-profit and other educators who work with farmers. Speficially, we foucsed on work with immigrant and minority farmers who are traditionally undersreved by outreach efforts from our state regulatory and education teams. The outreach also focused those who are exempt, qualified exempt by the FSMA PSR. We continued to work with our advisory board of farmers, regulators, non-profit educators, agricultural professionals and others that have an interest in working with farmers to help them understand the FSMA produce safety rule. Changes/Problems:Language continutes to be a challenge. The language of the PSR is dense and complicated, and translating it can be very difficult. There is just no language equivalent to many of the words. Spanish is easier than Hmong, but still can be a challenge. Also time - the small growers are struggling to make money at the farming operations, so learning about this rule is not seen as a high priority often. Food safety in general is not something that makes people want to show up to a field day or meeting - we need to couple it with other topics often to get good turnout. The COVID pandemic made in-person meetings impossible, and took the vast majority of the farmers (and educators) time from March through June, and focusing on other issues became a challenge. Other organizations continue to see UMN Extension Food Safety Team as the experts on GAPs adn FSMA, and sometimes hesitate to take on this information and understand and learn it. They would rather have farmers turn to the UMN, or they think the information is not relevant to the farmers they work with. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Along with a colleague from ISU, the team led a session inWisconsin that was a Train the Trainer opportunity for WI Extension staff on how to write food safety plans, and used the newly developed Food Safety Plan Template that is aligned with the PSR. We attended the Produce Safety Alliance Advanced Training in Lake Alfred Florida Jan 27-31. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Via in-person workshops and online. The videos havebeen sent out widely via partner organizations. The modified labeling and info on food hubs and qualified end users was provided in person and online via list servs. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This project will be seeking a No Cost Extension for the next year. The COVID pandemic made finishing the deliverables difficult.We plan to translate many of the newFSMA and GAPfactsheets into Hmong and Spanish.We will finalize an Employee training agenda and summary template to give to the Latino and Hmong farmers we are working with, so that they can adequately train their employees in accordance with the PSR, and translate this into Hmong and Spanish. We will translate the How to Build a Handwashing station video and the Labeling and Signage for Qualified Exempt Farms factsheet. We will host at least 2training days for Latino and Hmong and/or Amish farmers wto continue to answer their questions and share our new resources..We will host an Amish grower training with materials tailored to this audience and 1 more Hmong langugage FSMA training.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1) Advisory group has met 4 times, discussing the needs of small, diverse, and immigrant and minority farmers. They have reviewed content, provided feedback on the needs of the farmers that they work with including translation and outreach to underserved farms, and provided forums to share this information, by pulling together their farmers for training sessions. Goal 2) During this phase, we updated the Food Safety Plan 4 U document to align it with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule along with our partners at ISU.We updated 7 GAPs and FSMA Factsheets to ensure that they align with the FSMA PSR and that all material is current and correct.They can be found here.All the factsheets have been handed out at the MN Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference and at all FSMA Grower Trainings this year. Goal 3) Videos: We hired a videographer and communications specialist to develop thea short video entiled "FSMA and the Produce Safety Rule: does the rule apply to me?"The video is complete and onlineat this link. The video has been sent nationwide, including by our partners at the Produce Safety Alliance, and has gotten over 900 views on You Tube. We have heard from many people that they are showing it at Grower Trainings and at other workshops as a simple summary of a complex topic (coverage status). Other videos: Safely Harvesting Fresh Produce,How to Sample Well Water on your farm for bacterial contamination, andHow to Build a Portable Handwashing Stand. 2 have been translated into Spanish and Hmong, with the final coming soon. They are not up on the website yet, but will be soon. COVID-19 videos: during this grant period the COVID 19 pandmeic began. We pivoted and created some 5COVID related videos and translated them into Hmong and Spansh. They can be seen at this link. Factsheets: See factsheets in the link mentioned in Goal 2. The Labeling and Signage for Qualified Exempt Farms is new. We will continue to work on this goal and translating factsheets and videos in the next No Cost Extension phase of this project. Goal 4) We hosted 2FSMA overview sessions for Hmong and Spanish speaking farmers - one on qualified exempt labeling and signage, and one on employee training under the FSMA PSR. Workshopsweretranslated into Hmong and Spanish. We hosted 4 GAPs workshops focusing on on-farm food safety practices, 2 of which were translated into Hmong and Spanish. 2 were remote via Zoom due to the pandemic and 2 were in person. We hosted a Hmong language Grower Training day long session for Hmong farmers.We hadplanneda FSMA Grower Training for Amish farmers, to be held in March, andsecured an Amish lead trainer for that, but it was cancelled due to COVID. We will host an Amish triaining and reach out to this group in the next No Cost Exension phase of this project. Goal 5) We presented to the MN Farmers Market Association and farmers market managers on modified labeling requirements for qualified exemptions at their annual conference. We developed a factsheets summaryof the Modified Labeling Requirements and hosted an online webinar for farmers, market managers, non-profit educators, UMN extension and farmers. We will continue to work on this goal in the No Cost Extension Phase of this project to reach more audiences who can act as trainers and provide information to the farmers they work with.

Publications

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audience for this grant project during this initial phase was the advisory board which will provide feedback to the project team throughout the project duration. The advisory board consists of farmers, regulators, non-profit educators, agricultural professionals and others that have an interest in working with farmers to help them understand the FSMA produce safety rule. The secondary audience is the farmers who are covered by the FSMA PSR, who will benefit from the project activities. Changes/Problems:The only major challenge is that there are other advisory groups asking farmers for their input on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule right now. It is hard to not over-burden our groups and ask too much. I am attending another advisory group where many farms are present, and when possible, I ask the questions in that group that I would ask for this project. In that way, we are respecting the farmers time and not asking excessive amount of time/energy, and reducing confusion about multiple advisory boards. The PSR is also very dense and complicated, so creating simple yet accurate informatoin on these topics is an inherent challenge. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have planned at least 3 GAPs training this summer, including 2 on farm, that may result in more farms learning about basic GAPs and the FSMA PSR. These farms are Hispanic and Hmong farms. We will likely hear from other farms soon requesting more assistance. We have hired a FSMA Lead Trainer to help a farm understand GAPs and FSMA on their farm, and will be developing the documents created in that work into factsheets and templates that other farms can use. We have helped a small incubator farm that works with many immigrant growers understand their coverage status under the Rule, and have provided one-on-one assistance to their farms. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Via in-person workshops and online. We are developing a video currently, and will be developing basic recordkeeping and food safety plan templates soon, with input from the advisory board. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to create 2 factsheets and create 1 video describing the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and it's exemptions and exclusions. We will use very simple, picture based English to summarize complicated things. We could then translate the factsheet/other materials if the advisory group indicates that they would like it translated to other languages. We will create another factsheet that summarizes the difference between a GAP audit and the FSMA PSR. We will start to create the Food Safety for U template and publish that, so other farmers can have a template in alignment with the PSR.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1) During this initial phase, we identified key players that will serve on the project advisory board. We reached out to these partners to determine their interest in participating. We held multiple meetings with these members, some were held together as a group and some were individual, depending on the avilability of the participant. We asked a series of basic questions about their knoweldge of the FSMA PSR, and then gathered their thoughts on what is needed to help farmers with these topics. We summarized these thoughts from various participants into a document that will form the basis of our needs assessment for this work. Goal 2) We set up the initial conversations with partners to develop the Food Safety Plan 4 U document and align it with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. We gathered input on other states that are doing this work to look for examples of GAPs/FSMA alignment. We will continue to develop this tool, to ensure that the Food Safety Plan 4 U template is in alignment with the PSR. Goal 3) We have hired a videogrpaher and communications specialist to develop the script for a short video and communications materials. We are developing a short video to help farmers understand if they are covered

Publications