Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences reached during this reporting period are historically underrepresented farmers (HU-farmers) in the Inland Empire of Southern California, specifically those from Korean, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Hispanic, or Latino ethnic groups. These farmers are typically small-scale operators with limited resources, cultivating a mix of traditional and Asian vegetables and herbs in highly diversified systems. Efforts focused on providing technical assistance, culturally and linguistically tailored educational resources, and food safety training through workshops, on-farm demonstrations, and one-on-one interactions. Outreach methods included direct farm visits, personal networking, and print materials in preferred languages (Spanish and Korean), targeting farmers who face challenges such as language barriers, financial constraints, and limited access to technology. These activities aim to help HU-farmers implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided the following opportunities for training and professional development: For Farmers and Farm Workers: Workshops: Conducted multiple in-person workshops focused on FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, GAPs, and food safety topics. Offered hands-on training on practices such as worker health and hygiene, sanitation of tools and equipment, rodent control, and traceability procedures. Provided bilingual (Korean and Spanish) sessions, ensuring accessibility for underrepresented farmers. Tailgate Meetings: Organized small group training sessions tailored for farmers and their employees, addressing practical food safety measures, such as proper hygiene and record-keeping. Delivered bilingual training to enhance understanding and facilitate better adoption of practices. One-on-One Technical Assistance: Offered individual farm assessments and mock audits, enabling personalized guidance and education on meeting FSMA requirements. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Direct Outreach: Workshops and Tailgate Meetings: Results and key findings were shared directly with farmers and their workers during bilingual (Korean and Spanish) workshops and tailgate meetings. Workshops included real-life examples of successful implementation of food safety practices, reinforcing the importance of compliance. One-on-One Technical Assistance: Personalized feedback was provided to farmers during on-farm visits, mock audits, and follow-up assessments, ensuring that results and recommendations were directly applicable to their operations. Printed and Digital Materials: Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Resources: FSMA compliance templates and food safety educational materials in Korean, Spanish, and Chinese were distributed to farmers. Materials were shared through keystone community growers, agricultural supply stores, and partner organizations, ensuring they reached the intended audience. Community Networks: Partner organizations like the Riverside Food Systems Alliance, San Bernardino County Farm Bureau, and Riverside County Farm Bureau facilitated the dissemination of educational materials and updates through their networks. Community Engagement: Keystone Growers and Leaders: Community leaders and growers served as ambassadors, sharing project insights and resources within their networks. Outreach Events: Results were presented at community-focused agricultural events and through informal gatherings organized by local organizations. Online Platforms: Website and Email Outreach: Key findings, updates, and training opportunities were shared via email announcements and community partner websites, where applicable. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the project will focus on the following activities to continue accomplishing its goals: Goal 1: Provide hands-on technical assistance to historically underrepresented farmers on food safety GAPs and FSMA compliance requirements. Workshops: Conduct two additional workshops on FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements. Focus on topics such as traceability, biological soil amendments, and water testing. Ensure workshops are held at community-friendly locations with bilingual support (Korean and Spanish). On-Farm Assessments and Technical Assistance: Expand the number of on-farm visits to provide personalized food safety assessments and mock audits. Offer follow-up assessments to ensure corrective actions are implemented. Tailgate Meetings: Organize additional tailgate meetings in Korean and Spanish, emphasizing practical and hands-on training for small groups of farmers and their workers. Goal 2: Develop and deploy culturally and linguistically appropriate food safety educational materials. Finalize New Educational Resources: Complete and distribute FSMA record-keeping templates in Korean. Translate additional materials as needed to address gaps identified during evaluations. Distribute Materials Widely: Partner with keystone community growers, agricultural supply stores, and local nonprofits to disseminate materials. Use door-to-door outreach to engage farmers who prefer direct contact. Online Resource Development: Explore opportunities to enhance digital accessibility for farmers comfortable with technology, including downloadable templates and educational videos in Korean, Spanish, and English. Goal 3: Evaluate adoption of food safety practices. Surveys and Evaluations: Administer follow-up surveys post-training and site visits to assess improvements in knowledge, behavior, and compliance. Farm Audits: Conduct additional mock audits to evaluate the implementation of food safety practices among farmers previously trained.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Provide hands-on technical assistance to historically underrepresented farmers on food safety GAPs and FSMA compliance requirements. Conducted two workshops per year at key community growers' sites, with translation services in Korean and Spanish. These workshops focused on FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, worker hygiene, equipment sanitation, traceability, and record-keeping practices. Delivered on-farm, one-on-one technical assistance and mock audits, providing tailored feedback and recommendations for food safety improvements. Follow-up visits ensured corrective actions were implemented effectively. Organized tailgate meetings in Korean and Spanish with small groups of 3-5 farmers, offering hands-on training on record-keeping, hygiene protocols, rodent control, and other compliance requirements. Goal 2: Develop and deploy culturally and linguistically appropriate food safety educational materials. Created FSMA record-keeping templates in Korean, addressing a key language barrier and complementing existing materials in Spanish and Chinese. Updated existing food safety resources to align with the latest FSMA requirements and made them accessible in culturally relevant formats. Distributed materials through community partners and keystone growers, ensuring wide reach among target farmers. Goal 3: Evaluate the adoption of food safety practices. Implemented evaluation surveys during workshops, on-farm visits, and tailgate meetings to measure changes in knowledge, skills, and confidence regarding food safety practices. Conducted follow-up farm visits to assess the adoption of food safety practices, including proper hygiene, equipment sanitation, and record-keeping. These accomplishments reflect meaningful progress in improving food safety knowledge, compliance, and practices among historically underrepresented farmers in the Inland Empire.

Publications