Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project consists of sustainable and organic producers in four target states - Texas, Oklahoma,Arkansas, and Mississippi that grow specialty crops and use production practices, such as composting, manure for fertility,diversified farms. Some are certified organic; others are not. Disadvantaged and minority growers (Native American, AfricanAmerican, Hmong and Hispanic) are of additional importance to this project. These populations, especially those with low-income, closed communities, make them hard-to-reach producers. Also, these growers are often overlooked or do not have theireducational needs met with traditional food safety programs because those programs do not account for differences in scale orprovide non-technical, familiar language that make the program accessible to these populations. This project aims to reachthose growers who are disenfranchised by traditional programs. Changes/Problems:This project had some marked successes, but it was not without its own problems. The project was about 9 months late getting started because of delayed allocation of funds for the project. TOFGA was not in a position to begin without funds in place. Once begun, it became increasingly evident that the contractor brought in to lead PSA Growing Training and to develop alternative curriculum was not a good fit and did not understand the target audience as expected. Once this relationship was terminated, the project staff capacity was diminished and program work needed to adjust accordingly. Then at the end of 2018, our project director had to step back due to a major health issue, but other TOFGA staff were able to step up. While the project did not go as planned, it was successful in training farmers on the FSMA rules, providing professional development on FSMA and on-farm food safety that would otherwise not be available, and result in ongoing food safety and FSMA programming for TOFGA which also would not have happened without this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided 6 people with PSA Grower Train-the-Trainer training, allowing these agriculture professionals to be at the helm of the PSA Grower Training events. One of these 6 became a Lead Trainer. This professional development gave these 6 people the knowledge needed to not only lead the PSA Grower Training but also to consult with farmers about the FSMA Produce Rule and point them to resources to further help them figure out how to navigate the Produce Rule for their farm operation. Beyond these training opportunities, 3 other TOFGA board members were able to gain additonal information to also be able to provide additional support in their own small farm-based professional work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of the project have been shared in organizational reports. The main way in which the results of this project have been shared is through continued education and resource referal after the project period, including organizational planning to continue as a point of information, education, and resources for small-scale, organic, sustainable, and diversified farmers in Texas regarding the FSMA rules. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The "Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies for Hard to Reach Producers" project was a collaboration between the TexasOrganic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Oklahoma State University, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance with the aim to provide Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) training specifically aimed at sustainable and organic producers in four target states - Texas, Oklahoma,Arkansas, and Mississippi - who grow specialty crops and use production practices, such as composting, manure for fertility, many of whom sell direct to consumer. In Texas, this group of farmers often have trouble accessing training that meets their specific needs. The project provided training with presenters who not only knowledgable about the FSMA rules - both the Produce Rule and the Facilities Rule - and trained appropriately but who also know and understand the farm operations of the target audience. This project successfully trained 406 farmers and agriculture producers in the FSMA rules. It also provided those organizations involved with a better understanding of the needs of the target producers, connected the project personnel to the national network of Regional Centers and others supporting the FSMA rules. For the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA), the lead organization, this project increased the capacity of the organization to assist farmers in navigating the FSMA rules and established TOFGA's place in this work beyond the period of this grant. TOFGA continues to have FSMA and food safety training as an educational priority for its ongoing work. Accomplishments on specific objectives: 1) The project did not accomplish this goal in the way in which it was written. The project did, however, develop the knowledge of 9 people who are now able to consult with farmers about the FSMA rule, exemptions, and where to find additional resources. Resources from other Food Safety Outreach Projects projects have been and will be leveraged to provide specific food safety information and implementation strategies for the target audience. Workshop topics about on-farm food safety practices, beyond the FSMA rule, are now included in every TOFGA annual conference, which had not been true prior to this project. 2) Due to circumstances explained in the following section, the curriculum delivery objective was collapsed into objective #3 below and focused on using the PSA Grower Training and the FSPCA Facilities Training to educate producers. 3) The project successfully educated 292 farmers and agriculture professionals at 18 events through the PSA Grower Training and the FSPCA Facilities Training. Events were held in Texas and Arkansas. Those attending increased their knowledge about the specific FSMA rules as well as the good agricultural practices needed to meet the standards of the FSMA rule. Agriculture professionals were able to take this information and support additional farmers in their work. Farmers were able to implement changes to their current practices to increase their on-farm food safety and to apply knowledge learned to navigate the FSMA rule for thier specific agriculture operation. As an off-shoot of these trainings and to meet the needs of the target audience, seven (7) presentations were made specifically about the FSMA Produce Rule exemptions to help farmers who most likely fall into this category with the information they need, training 78 people. Additionally, 2 training events were held that covered some specific, cost-effective on-farm food safety strategies for our target audience, training 30 people. In total the project reached 400 farmers and agriculture professionals with these events. 4) This objective was also affected by changes in project personnel as referenced in the following section. In spite of these changes but because of this funding, training participants received information and resources available from universities and other agriculture nonprofits regarding on-farm food safety. Because of the connectional nature of the project (project director meetings, regional FSMA centers, etc), the project team developed relationships with other people and organizations in other states that facilitated the awareness of a broader range of resources available specifically for the target audience.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The project, "Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies for Hard to Reach Producers" which began activities in May of 2017, aims to provide training for farmers who are small and mid-scale, direct market their products, use sustainable or organic production methods, are socially disadvantaged, and tend to have a great deal of apprehension around the impending requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act. During this reporting period, four PSA Grower Trainings were completed with the target audience. An additional workshop based on the PSA Grower training curriculum was presented to high school students in Tennessee. The first PSA Grower workshop was hosted as a pre-conference opportunity in conjunction with the Food & Farm Leadership Conference in McKinney, TX in September 2017 with 15 attendees. The next workshop was in January in conjunction with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual conference in Chattanooga, TN with 32 attendees. Following this was a workshop in Georgetown, TX in the first week of February 2018 with 22 participants. In August 2018, another PSA workshop was offered in Austin, TX for 16 participants. With the total 85 participants, 97% reported that they did not believe that their farming operations would be subject to the full FSMA Produce Rule but that they would be considered qualified exempt. Eighty-two percent were farm owner-operators, and 93% reported farming 25 acres or less. These characteristics are consistent with the goals of our target demographic. Changes/Problems:After getting a delayed start from the original work plan, the project continued to move slowly. In August of 2018, we terminated the contract of Heaven Sent Food & Fiber that included trainer Coleen Thornton. This termination was due to lack of responsiveness and activity related to this grant. The work that was supposed to be done was not being done. This has further slowed progress in the development of additional resources for growers and innovativre presentations of the material. We feel now that the project is on a corrected tragectory. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PSA Grower workshop modules offer training and professional development for both farmers and those who work with farmers. We have had consultants, Extension agents, and other farm support personnel attend our trainings. 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?In the next reporting period, three PSA Produce Rule trainings and three FSPCA Facilities Rule trainings are scheudled at the Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance, Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, and Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association conferences in October, January, and February respectively. We will also be developing, adapting, or compliing online resources for growers, a hands-on food safety plan development workshop, hands-on activities to accompany the PSA training, and other workshops that encorporate various food safety best practices and the implementation of these practices.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) presents new challenges to growers, especially small and mid-scale farmers using sustainable and organic methods and those in socially disadvantaged populations. These growers tend to not have the same access to resources and support as larger growers. This project is designed to help reach this population of growers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In the second reporting period of this grant, the Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies for Hard to Reach Producers project offered PSA Grower Training to an audience that is largely made up of growers who will most likely be considered Qualified Exempt under the Rule. Five trainings was held in conjuction with existing conferences as well as stand-alone offerings. Eighty-five farmers, farm workers, and other support persons attended, all of whom were in the target audience. They gained knowledge of FSMA regulations and exemptions. They reported an increased understanding of the regulations and how to mitigate biological hazards on their farms. They also gained knowledge of on-farm food safety best practices, regardless of FSMA compliance or exemption status. Objective 1: Using existing food safety training resources, build unique a curriculum that supports experiential, observational and kinesthetic learning styles of hard-to-reach producers -- 1. Unique curriculum modules related to FSMA requirements for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time. Objective 2: Deliver this customized curriculum that will teach food safety intervention and control strategies to 500 producers through training events in a four-state area (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi). 1. Unique curriculum modules related to FSMA requirements for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. The curriculum will be implemented in the coming reporting periods. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time. Objective 3: Provide PSA and FSPCA certificate program options at reduced cost. 1. Four PSA certificate workshop has been offered in this reporting period. Additional workshops are already scheudled. 2. The first PSA Grower workshop was hosted as a pre-conference opportunity in conjunction with the Food & Farm Leadership Conference in McKinney, TX in September 2017 with 15 attendees. The next workshop was in January in conjunction with the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual conference in Chattanooga, TN with 32 attendees. Following this was a workshop in Georgetown, TX in the first week of February 2018 with 22 participants. In August 2018, another PSA workshop was offered in Austin, TX for 16 participants. 3. With the total 85 participants, 97% reported that they did not believe that their farming operations would be subject to the full FSMA Produce Rule but that they would be considered qualified exempt. Eighty-two percent were farm owner-operators, and 93% reported farming 25 acres or less. These characteristics are consistent with the goals of our target demographic. We have not attracted many farmers who identify with minority racial/ethnic groups. We are unsure whether this is indicative of the farming population or points more to our outreach methods. 4. Based on the statistics andother comments from the evaluations, this workshop overwhelmingly met the target population in farm size and production methods and touched on the population who have apprehension around the FMSA regulations. We continue to see the need for customized approaches for presenting information and basing our approach knowing that the majority of our producers will be in the Qualified Exempt categories. Because these attendees will most likely fall in the "qualified exempt" category of growers as outlined in FSMA provisions, additional training on best practices for on-farm food safety will be of benefit to this group in assuring that while they may not have to meet all of the FSMA regulations, they still maintain high standards for on-farm food safety. We are also working on a hands-on workshop for developing an on-farm food safety plan for these growers. Objective 4: Provide on-farm food safety materials and resources that can be put to use immediately upon completion of training and that assist with planning for funding capital infrastructure improvements. 1. Unique curriculum modules related to on-farm food safety for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. We are also working with tools developed by other FSOP projects to include them in our workshops or make them available virtually. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The project, "Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies for Hard to Reach Producers" which began activities in May of 2017, aims to provide training for farmers who are small and mid-scale, direct market their products, use sustainable or organic production methods, are socially disadvantaged, and tend to have a great deal of apprehension around the impending requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act. During this reporting period, one workshop has been completed with the target audience. This workshop was the full PSA Grower Training designed to prepare farmers for full FSMA compliance. This workshop was hosted as a pre-conference opportunity in conjunction with the Food & Farm Leadership Conference in McKinney, TX on September 24. Thirty-five participants attended the full-day training. Thirty-two completed course evaluations. Of those reporting, 22 reported being farm owner/operators, 1 a farm worker, 1 a government employee, and 7 categorized themselves as Other and specified Master Gardener, greenhouse worker, paramedic, prospective farmer, health and nutrition educator, and finance. Twenty-three respondents were classified as beginning farmers with 10 years or fewer in farming. Twenty-five reported that their farms were 0-10 acres in size with three respondents reporting 11-25 acres and 2 with 26-50 acres. Seventy-six respondents reported that their annual income from farming was less than or equal to $25,000. Only 23 answered the question regarding production practices. Of those who did answer, 17 reported that they follow organic practices but are not currently certified. The majority of respondents reported identifying as White in reponse to the question about ethnicity. This workshop overwhelmingly met the target population in farm size and production methods. And, based on other comments in the evaluations, touched on the population who have apprehension around the FMSA regulations. Changes/Problems:The only problem that this project has encountered was the delay in the start of the project caused by delayed funding allocation. Curriculum development would be farther along than it currently is and more individual workshops would be scheduled. This was a temporary delay and the project will regain its pace during the next reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided one PSA grower certificate workshop in this reporting period. This is the standard approved training that meets FDA standards for grower training as related to FSMA requirements. 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?In the next reporting period, the project team will continue to work on unique curriculum modules for various pieces of FSMA compliance as well as general on-farm food safety best practices. Strategies for presenting the information in ways that are more accessible and friendly to the target audience will continue to be developed and adapted. Also, resources for infrastructure improvement will also be developed. These specific resources will be disseminated through standard PSA and FSPCA training events and through workshops addressing specific parts of on-farm food safety best practices.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) presents new challenges to growers, especially small and mid-scale farmers using sustainable and organic methods and those in socially disadvantaged populations. These growers tend to not have the same access to resources and support as larger growers. This project is designed to help reach this population of growers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In the first reporting period of this grant, the Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies for Hard to Reach Producers project began developing resources for target audiences, planning detailed strategies, and scheduling trainings. One training was held in conjuction with the Farm & Food Leadership Conference in McKinney, TX. Thirty-five producers attended, all of whom were in the target audience. They gained knowledge of FSMA regulations and exemptions. They reported an increased understanding of the regulations and how to mitigate biological hazards on their farms. Objective 1: Using existing food safety training resources, build unique a curriculum that supports experiential, observational and kinesthetic learning styles of hard-to-reach producers -- 1. Unique curriculum modules related to FSMA requirements for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time. Objective 2: Deliver this customized curriculum that will teach food safety intervention and control strategies to 500 producers through training events in a four-state area (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi). 1. Unique curriculum modules related to FSMA requirements for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. The curriculum will be implemented in the coming reporting periods. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time. Objective 3: Provide PSA and FSPCA certificate program options at reduced cost. 1. One PSA certificate workshop has been offered in this reporting period. Two additional workshops are scheduled. 2. This workshop was hosted as a pre-conference opportunity in conjunction with the Food & Farm Leadership Conference in McKinney, TX on September 24. Thirty-five participants attended the full-day training. All attendees reported gaining information on each of the seven training modules. 3. Thirty-two attendees completed course evaluations. Of those reporting, 22 reported being farm owner/operators, 1 a farm worker, 1 a government employee, and 7 categorized themselves as Other and specified Master Gardener, greenhouse worker, paramedic, prospective farmer, health and nutrition educator, and finance. Twenty-three respondents were classified as beginning farmers with 10 years or fewer in farming. Twenty-five reported that their farms were 0-10 acres in size with three respondents reporting 11-25 acres and 2 with 26-50 acres. Seventy-six respondents reported that their annual income from farming was less than or equal to $25,000. Only 23 answered the question regarding production practices. Of those who did answer, 17 reported that they follow organic practices but are not currently certified. The majority of respondents reported identifying as White in reponse to the question about ethnicity. 4. Based on the statistics above as well as other comments in the evaluations, This workshop overwhelmingly met the target population in farm size and production methods and touched on the population who have apprehension around the FMSA regulations. From this initial training, the need for customized approaches for presenting information was reiterated. Because these attendees will most likely fall in the "qualified exempt" category of growers as outlined in FSMA provisions, additional training on best practices for on-farm food safety will be of benefit to this group in assuring that while they may not have to meet all of the FSMA regulations, they still maintain high standards for on-farm food safety. Objective 4: Provide on-farm food safety materials and resources that can be put to use immediately upon completion of training and that assist with planning for funding capital infrastructure improvements. 1. Unique curriculum modules related to on-farm food safety for producers aimed at the target audience are currently in development. 2. No data has been collected on this objective 3. No statistics or results are available at this time 4. No key outcomes or accomplishments related to this objective are available at this time.
Publications
|
|