Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This Community Outreach project will focus on meeting the food safety training needs of underserved, BIPOC and underserved farmers in urban and rural portions of Greene County, MO, as they initiate agricultural careers and enter production markets. SCG has made intentional efforts to reach out to immigrant populations in Greene County, MO including the Burmese, Hmong, Congolese, and newly arriving Afghan communities to incorporate culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible training and resources. While the opportunity to sell at farmers markets and other cultural markets in the region remains high, language and cultural barriers have often presented specific challenges when bringing food to market, specifically food safety and handling procedures that differ from their native countries. No other food safety training exists in the region for these populations.MU Extension, a leader in regional agricultural training and resources, has successfully provided food safety and FSMA PSA training to socially disadvantaged and immigrant populations in the past (specifically the Hmong populations in rural areas of the State) and will be a primary partner for the proposed project. In partnership with MU Extension, this project will incorporate FSMA PSA training into the SCG farm incubator training model already in place, with a particular emphasis on the Burmese and Congolese populations, building the capacity of SCG to identify and implement appropriately customized food safety education and outreach programs to the BIPOC and Burmese and Congolese populations both during the grant timeframe and after the grant timeframe.This project is anticipated to provide intense training to 100 target population farmers over the course of 24 months.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
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Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
In partnership with MU Extension, this project over two years will serve 100 farmers, expand online SCG food safety training offerings through an online training/testing platform, expand existing food safety topics from the current FSOP grant, and incorporate in person food safety training for populations with limited or no technology access (including aspects of GAP and FSMA PSA training), into the SCG farm incubator training model already in place, with a particular emphasis on underserved as well as new and beginning urban and rural farmers in Greene County, MO including farmers participating in SCG market gardens, regional food hub, and internship programs, strengthening SCG's capacity to provide regenerative approaches that address local public health challenges and high rates of food insecurity. The proposed project will also accelerate and leverage community based investments with various established local and regional institutions that are requesting to purchase more local foods. Specific objectives for the project include the following: Objective #1: In collaboration with Patrick Byers, SCG will develop replicable food safety education that address the needs of small, specialized farmer and market garden audiences whose food safety education needs have not previously been adequately addressed (specifically new and beginning and underserved farmers) that are participating in emerging SCG food hub aggregation markets. This includes an online training platform of expanded food safety aggregation curriculum modules and activities (provided through the online training system Litmos) in English and closed captioned in Chin, Spanish and Chinese, that meet the socio-cultural needs of the target population to encourage more participation in local and regional urban and rural farming by the target population. Objective #2: Over 2 years, conduct outreach and provide 75 (38 farmers per year) new, beginning, and underserved farmers, 8 hrs of online based food safety (GAP and FMSA PSA based) training for applicants with minimal food safety experience over 24 months in linguistically and culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive manners to allow for entry into production and sale, ultimately enhancing the target population's capacity to participate in agricultural careers throughout the region. This online training will include learning milestones, interactive quizzes, and a final quiz that must be passed and be required for all emerging farmers that are participating in aggregation for the CSA food sale options through SCG's network of local restaurants, partnerships with the CoxHealth hospital system, and the New Growth/West Central Regional Food Hub. Objective #3: For those where access to technology and online training is a barrier to participation (N=25), SCG will provide 8 hrs of training in person through farm walks and farm visits that mirror online curriculum. It is significant to note that through SCG's extensive farmer and farmer development models, both online and in person project participants have access to additional educational training sessions, hands-on education, and intensive mentoring through SCG existing garden leader, farmer apprentice, farmer assistant, and internship programming. Objective #4: Over 24 months, evaluate project activities, communicate with Regional Centers, and disseminate findings to both Regional Centers, and the larger stakeholder community on effective target population outreach and food safety training practices.
Project Methods
100 farmers will be instructed in food safety training offerings through an online training/testing platform and/or in person when appropriate, to expand and incorporate existing food safety training(including aspects of GAP and FSMA PSA training) for populations with limited or no technology access. Methods include linguistic and culturally appropriate activities including translation.Performance Measurement Plan/Evaluation Strategy : The project will work collaboratively with lead evaluator Christina Ryder on the proposed project. She will evaluate both project processes and outcomes based on the activities and objectives discussed in this proposal. The SCG leadership team/advisory board, including volunteers and staff, as well as members from partner organizations will be active participants throughout the evaluation process (including in creating a communication and results dissemination plan with respective regional centers). The plan includes activity tracking and farmer surveys and interviews at determined intervals. Throughout the duration of the grant, a number of readily available tracking forms and surveys will be used to assess the number of individuals who receive training, the knowledge and impact of these trainings, the economic impact that the project creates for the target population, and the training knowledge implemented. Monthly process evaluations will allow continuous data to inform a better understanding of ongoing project impact and allow improvement to be implemented rapidly. The evaluation team and Project Manager will produce short quarterly progress reports. This will summarize findings and improvements to date, provide recommendations for the upcoming year, and determine progress towards short-term goals. At the conclusion of the grant, stakeholders will be surveyed again and a final report produced, that will discuss mid and longer term outcomes.