Non Technical Summary
Hawai'i's food processors, manufacturers, and sprout growers areunderserved regarding education and training for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance. Despite hundreds of these food businesses, there are only two Preventative Controls for Human Foods (PCHF) Lead Instructors and zero Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) trainers in Hawai'i. This project, led by the University of Hawai'i (UH) Cooperative Extension, will build the local training and education capacity to support stakeholders as they comply withthe Preventive Controls Rule for Human Foods and the Produce Safety Rule concerning the production of sprouts complianceunder FSMA. The project team will identify and support eligible food safety educators within UH, as well as partner state agencies and community organizations, to 1) complete Sprouts Safety Alliance (SSA) grower training and/or Preventative Controls for Human Foods (PCHF) Course; 2) complete necessary documents and exams and apply for Lead Instructor status; and 3) complete Lead Instructor courses. The project team will enhance trainer capacity by contracting established Lead Instructors from partner institutions to co-teach PCHF and SSA courses with new local trainers. Evaluation data will be collected from Lead Instructors, new local trainers, and course attendees to provide feedback and improve local food safety education programs. The ultimate outcomes of this project include providing stable, local training capacity to support the adoption and compliance with FSMA requirements.building partnerships and relationships with local communities and organizations,and improving public health through a safer local food system.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
712	5010	3020	50%
712	1499	3020	50%

Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 5010 - Food;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
The project aims to build and strengthen capacity and knowledge within the University of Hawai'i and among partner organizations and agencies to provide educational support for underserved small growers and processors in meeting Food Safety Modernization Act requirements. This will be achieved through the successful completion of tasks aligned with the following project objectives:Objective 1: Build training and education capacity within the University of Hawai'i and its partner organizations and agencies by training Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) Lead Instructors.Objective 2: Build training and education capacity within the University of Hawai'i and its partner organizations and agencies by training Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCHF)Lead Instructors.Objective 3: Enhance and evaluate trainer education by co-teaching PCHF and SSA courses with experienced Lead Instructors, leveraging partnerships with community organizations to reach small growers and processors.

Project Methods
Planned ActivitiesObjective 1: Build training and education capacity within the University of Hawai'i and its partner organizations and agencies by training Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) Lead InstructorsTask 1.1: Identify food safety educators who meet the criteria for SSA LITask 1.2: Food safety educators complete the SSA Grower Training CourseTask 1.3: Food safety educators apply to become approved SSA Lead Instructor applicantsTask 1.4: Food safety educators complete the SSA Lead Instructor Training and become certifiedObjective 2: Build training and education capacity within the University of Hawai'i and its partner organizations and agencies by training PCHF Lead InstructorsTask 2.1: Identify food safety educators who meet the criteria for PCHF LITask 2.2: Contract PCQI Training for identified educators and processors under the FSCPA PCHF 2.0 curriculumTask 2.3: Food safety educators complete the FSPCA PCHF exam and apply to become approved FSPCA PCHF Lead Instructor ApplicantsTask 2.4: Educators complete the PCHF Lead Instructor Course and become certifiedObjective 3: Enhance and evaluate trainer education by co-teaching PCHF and SSA courses with experienced Lead Instructors, leveraging partnerships with community organizations to reach small growers and processorsTask 3.1: Contract established Lead Instructor(s) from partner institutions to co-teach a SSA Grower Training Course with newly approved Hawai'i -based Lead instructors to continue and enhance educator training.Task 3.2: Engage with agricultural and food communities and leverage partnerships to increase SSA Grower Training Course participation and extend the project's educational reach.Task 3.3: Conduct SSA Grower Training Course for growers in Hawai'iTask 3.4: Contract established Lead Instructor(s) from partner institutions to co-teach a PCHF Participant Course with newly approved Hawai'i -based Lead instructors to continue and enhance educator training.Task 3.5: Engage with the agricultural and food communities and leverage partnerships to increase PCHF participation, extend the project's educational reach, and assess training needs.Task 3.6: Conduct PCHF Participant Course for processors in Hawai'iCommunication PlanThroughout this project, the project director and key personnel will engage and communicate with the Western Regional Center (WRCEFS) by sharing training data and educational materials developed and participating in meetings. Training data will be collected by using the standardized evaluation tools provided by the WRCEFS, such as pre- and post-training tests. Other metrics, including the training dates and number of participants, will also be reported to the WRCEFS. Regular updates will be provided by completing progress reports for the WRCEFS and via partner updates during the WRCEFS monthly meetings. Key personnel will also participate in the in-person WRCEFS annual meetings to share project progress.Evaluation PlanProject evaluation will occur throughout the duration of the project to determine whether the goal of increasing training capacity in Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) and Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) will be met by evaluating verification metrics established in the project work plan. Additionally, standardized course evaluations will be used after conducting official training, providing qualitative and quantitative measures of the effectiveness and quality of thetrainers established in Hawai'i as a result of this project. The project team will also use standardized evaluation tools provided by WRCEFS, such as pre-training and post-training tests, providing additional evaluation metrics for the Key Personnel to use in the overall project evaluation. To further evaluate the project, the Key Personnel will develop an internal evaluation tool to survey comments and suggestions from the experienced Lead Instructors (LI) who are contracted to co-teach to inform newly certified Hawai'i LI on areas of improvement for SSA and PCHF training.