Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:small and very small size produce growers and small processorsin southern illinois region and some out of state growers participated in our food safety outreach trainings that included PSA Produce Growers trainings, FSPCA Preventive Control of Human Foods, and Better Process Control School. Changes/Problems:We had subcontract with the ShawneeCommunity College and they did their best to advertise the better process control traning events but they did not get minimum audience to conduct training in their site. Subsequently the personnel change in Shawneed community delayed the marketing of training courses in 2018. Therefore instead of conducting the training at the Shawneed community, it was conducted in SIU Carbondale campus in June 2018. Similarly, we had announced a traning at the Rend Lake college and we did not get enough participants and therefore we conducted the PSA growers traning again in SIU during this reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?graduate students involved in this project were also trained in produce safety, preventive control of human foods, and better process control of canning operations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?By the Illinois Extension website, personal contact to Amish growers and by phone calls and emails to other growers and processors in Southern Illinois. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We accomplished objectives 1, 2, and 4 till last reporting period (Sept 1 2016 to Aug 31, 2017). Under this reporting period (Sept 1, 2017 to Aug 31, 2018), we accomplished Objective 3. The tranings were delivered to target audience by announcing these tranings in various media outlets namely Illinois Extension websites, direct contact to growers in local foods conference, and by phone calls and emails. 1. PSA growers traning in SIU during Jan 2018. 2. FSPCA Human Foods traning in SIU , April 2018 3. Better Process Control School tranining in SIU, June 2018
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Small and very small produce growers and processors in Southern Illinois region comprising of 24 southern counties. The growers included Amish, Hispanic, African American , and Caucasions. Changes/Problems:We had subcontract with the Shawnee Community College and they did their best to advertise the better process control traning events but they did not get minimum audience to conduct training in their site. Subsequently the personnel change in Shawneed community delayed the marketing of training courses in 2018. Therefore instead of conducting the training at the Shawneed community, it was conducted in SIU Carbondale campus in June 2018. Similarly, we had announced a traning at the Rend Lake college and we did not get enough participants and therefore we conducted the PSA growers traning again in SIU during this reporting period. We could not get growers interested in doing mock audits in their farms for the groupGAP audits. Because of the above unexpected delays, we had to request project extension from end date of Aug 31, 2017 to Aug 31, 2018 and we were able to accomplish all the objectives of the project during this 2nd year of the project. In addition, we are delivering above and beyond the project objective and project period. We are cpmmitted to providemore food safety trainings to small scale produce growers and processors in Southern Illinois. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided opportunity to the PD Choudhary to obtain Lead instructor training in FSPCA Preventive Control of Human Foods. Also, three project leaders (PD, and 2 collaborators) obtained training in PSA Produce Safety course as the instructors. One of them , Dr Laurie George was trained as the Lead Instructor of the PSA Produce safety course. In addition, the graduate students working in this project were trained in the PSA produce safety, FSPCA Human Foods, and BPCS canning courses. They were also exposed to the activities of the other food safety outreach grants in the region by attending and assistingthe PD to organize the North Central Regional PD meeting in St Louis in May 2017. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project activities were announce in the beginning of the project through a presentation at the local food conference and the local newspaper "The Southern" reported a story about the USDA funding the upcoming FSMA food safety trainings in the region. Later on, in 2017 and 2018,the Illinois Extension website conveyed the training events and accomplishments in theirLocal Food Systems and Small Farms web pages. We also reached Amish population and other small producers and processors in the Southern Illinois region by phone calls, emails as well as various personal visits to their farms by the PD and by attending the small fruits workshops organized by the Illinois Extension. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We identified that there was no existing food safety training program in southern illinois. So, we conducted survey on the training needs of the target audience in southern illinois during a local food conference in Marion IL and small fruits conference in OFallen IL. Based on the survey, we found that most growers are not aware of importance of soils and water in produce safety. Similary the processors were not aware of any training on FSMA exist in this southern Illinois region. Based on their feedback, we identified the best course materials. Three of the collaborators are now trained by the train the trainer workshop of PSA:The PDDr. Ruplal Choudhary, and collaborators from IL Extension: Dr. Laurie George, and Dr. James Theuri. One among the three instructors (Dr George) has also obtained certification as the Lead Instructor for PSA produce safety curricula. We also organized a first ever PSA trainining in IL during March 2017. This PSA tranining delivered at the Southern Illinois University Farms was attended by various ethnic groups that are involved in produce growing and packaging in southern Illinois. Racial composition of participants in our PSA training included amish/mennonite, black, hispanic, asian and white. Total 25 participants attended the training. On May 16th 2017, a project directors' meeting was organized in St Louis Airport Marriott. The the PDs and their collaborators from north central region participated and discussed the progress in their project. Dr Jodi Williams represented NIFA in this meeting. She appraised the participants about upcoming food safety outreatch grant 2017. Dr Angela Shaw spoke on regulatory updates and coordination between centers in north central region. All members exchanged their progress and challenges and devised a regular networking by attending monthly teleconference meeting of north central region center. PD Choudhary also obtained the Lead Instructor training for the FSPCA human foods course and he is already approved by the FDAto teach the Better Process Control School for safe canning operations. In 2018, two more PSA produce safety traninings were organized and were attended by 23 participants. The January 31 PSA training was attended by 13 participants consisting of 3 Amish, and 10 other white Americans. Additionally on Oct 11, 2018, PSA training were delivered by Illinois Extension with the support of this grant to 10 growers. The FSPCA preventive control for Human Foods course was delivered in April 2018 to 5 participants and the Better Process Control School (BPCS) for safe canning was delivered to 4 participants in June 2018. In addition, 4 participants from a small scale produce canning industry are attending the current BPCS course being offered once a week during Ocober November 2018. All these courses are being offerend as a partof this grant even after the end of the grant period. The trained PDand collaborators will continue to offer food safety trainings beyond grant period because these personnel are now trained by this valuable grant program.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
1. Thomson, J., Choudhary, R. 2017. Cold Pasteurization of Tender Coconut Water by a Flow through Filter Column
Containing Glassbeads Coated with Curcumin Nano-Liposomes" (ID# 14941). International Associate of Food Protection.
Tampa, FL, July 8-12, 2017.
2. Umagiliyage, A., Choudhary, R. 2017. Influence of Ultraviolet-C Light Intensity on Blueberries for Enhanced Food Safety
and Extended Shelf Life. International Associate of Food Protection Tampa, FL, July 8-12, 2017.
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:very small and small size produce growers in southern illinois region included growers from 24 counties and some out of state growers particiapated in our historical first ever produce safety training in Illinois. Racial composition included hispanic, black, mennonite/amish, asian and white. Changes/Problems:We could not provide second training on produce safety training and the better process control and Human foods because the target audience was busy with the growing season. So we obtained 12 months extension on this project and have decided to offer training in November, 2017 at the Rndlake college, Ina, IL;and the BPCS in February at the Shawnee Community colllege, Anna, IL ; and FSPCA human foods training in SIU Carbondale in Spring of 2018. We also plan to do mock audits of growers during next PSA training workshop in Rendlake College, Ina, IL. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided opportunity to the PD Choudhary to obtain Lead instructor training in IIT Chicago. Also, three project leaders (PD, and 2 collaborators) obtained training in PSA produce safety as the instructors and one of them as the lead instructor. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?the project activities were announce in the beginning of the project through a presentation at the local food conference and the local newspaper "The Southern" reported a story about the USDA funding the upcoming FSMA food safety trainings in the region. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have already schedule two trainings and are planning the third one. We are interacting with the locak target audience about the training need and the way of delivery.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We identified that there was no existing food safety training program in southern illinois. So, we conducted survey on the training needs of the target audience in southern illinois during a local food conference in Marion IL and small fruits conference in OFallen IL. Based on the survey, we found that most growers are not aware of importance of soils and water in produce safety. Similary the processors were not aware of any training on FSMA exist in this southern Illinois region. Based on their feedback, we identified the best course materials. Three of the collaborators are now trained by the train the trainer workshop of PSA:The PI Dr. Ruplal Choudhary, and collaborators from IL Extension: Dr. Laurie George, and Dr. James Theuri. One among the three instructors (Dr George) has also obtained certification as the Lead Instructor for PSA produce safety curricula. We also organized a first ever PSA trainining in IL during March 2017. This PSA tranining delivered at the Southern Illinois University Farms was attended by various ethnic groups that are involved in produce growing and packaging in southern Illinois. Racial composition of participants in our PSA trainingincluded amish/mennonite, black, hispanic, asian and white. Total 25 participants attended the training. On May 16th 2017, a project directors' meeting was organized in St Louis Airport Marriott. The the PDs and their collaborators from north central region participated and discussed the progress in their project. Dr Jodi Williams represented NIFA in this meeting. She appraised the participants about upcoming food safety outreatch grant 2017. Dr Angela Shaw spoke on regulatory updates and coordination between centers in north central region. All members exchanged their progress and challenges and devised a regular networking by attending monthly teleconference meeting of north central region center. PD Choudhary has also obtained lead instructor training for the FSPCA human foods and he is already trained to teach better process control school at the shawnee community college, Anna, IL
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
1. Thomson, J., Choudhary, R. 2017. Cold Pasteurization of Tender Coconut Water by a Flow through Filter Column Containing Glassbeads Coated with Curcumin Nano-Liposomes" (ID# 14941). International Associate of Food Protection. Tampa, FL, July 8-12, 2017.
2. Umagiliyage, A., Choudhary, R. 2017. Influence of Ultraviolet-C Light Intensity on Blueberries for Enhanced Food Safety and Extended Shelf Life. International Associate of Food Protection Tampa, FL, July 8-12, 2017.
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