Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience wasnew, beginning and experienced commercial produce growers in Colorado from scales less than one acre up to 1000+ acres of fruits and vegetables. Some of these produce growers were Latino and interpretation was provided. Some were socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged so scholarships were provided for Workshops and Train the Trainer.. Our team currently has no data the on the demographics of the populations among produce growers in Colorado, however, by observation, we know they doattend our educational programs. Further, there are beginning and experienced produce growers in 4 distinct produce growing regions of Colorado: Front Range (11 Counties), Tri River Area (3 Counties), San Luis Valley (6 Counties), Southwest Colorado (3 Counties). We had strong participation among beginning farmers and BIPOC organizations in this performance period from all 4 regions. Changes/Problems:COVID19 impeded the project team's ability to deliver planned in person events. Some team members time and effort were diverted into COVID19 response during the first and second quarters of 2020, causing additional delays in project outputs. Due to these conditions, we have delivered outputs virtually when possible and have planned for more project outputs to be video products, giving us both the flexibility of asynchrous delivery and transmission of educational outputs across various web based platforms. Collecting evaluation data becomes more problematic when content is delivered asynchronously (videos, social media, etc.) and during live webinars. Response rates from webinar participants is low and when technically possible, response rates from asynchronous outputs is almost zero. We are uncertain at this time how to effectivly gather outcomes other than reporting page views. Because of these challenges, we requested two NCE and shifted some of our activities to meet the challenges our producers are facing in 2024. For example, we discontinued offering one-on-one mentoring portion and replaced it with hands-on workshops. They were all very well received. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Collaborative conducted a Cleaning and Sanitzing hands-on workshop in January, 2024 with 2 Extension personnel and 8 growers in attendance. The Collaborative in conjunction with Produce Safety Alliance hosted 12 Extension personnel and 3 growers atour in-person Train the Trainer event in April, 2024 Beth LaShell attended the 2024Western Regional Center for Extension Food Safety meeting, presenting our project accomplishments, attended educational sessions, and networked with other food safety professionals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The team has used a multi-media approach, delivering in-person content and producing webinars, as well as developing fact sheets, posting social media content, updating web site content and producing other resources that will help growers understand a range of topics related to produce safety and implement actions on their farms to reduce produce safety risks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Increasing growers' food safety understanding This objective entails hosting meetings and online events that will enhance growers' baseline knowledge by framing produce safety in a way that provides growers with a greater comfort level in their own managerial control and ability to reduce risk on their operations. In order to meet this objective, we need to increase the number of trainers and lead trainers. Colorado hosted one of the first Train the Trainer courses in 2017. However, the number of qualified trainers is currently very limited while our grower demand remains consistent. Activities and techniques, Objective 1: Host an in-person Train the Trainer course to increase the number of trainers and lead trainers to serve Colorado (April, 2024). 15 participants from 4 states Host Produce Field Day with in-field demonstrations September, 2023- 71 participants May, 2024 - 23 participants Convert 2 of our existing webinars to online curriculum (August, 2024). Risk Assessment Workshop was converted to online student curriculum at Colorado State University- Microbial Risk Assessment in Agricultural Environments (Hort 585A5) for 2 credits. Ensuring that each meeting, workshop or event focuses on the benefits (and sometimes requirements) for recordkeeping via policies, procedures, SOPs and other records that provide farm managers with information on how their farm food safety program is functioning and where there are vulnerabilities that might lead to a greater risk of foodborne illness. Objective 2: Increasing and enhancing growers' knowledge of tools and regulations FSMA's Produce Safety Rule went into effect in November 2015 and the first compliance date for the largest growers was in January 2016 (for covered farms growing over $500,000 in produce not undergoing a kill-step). There are, however, several factors that influence risk exposure and management practices, necessitating regular and directed educational program delivery. These include: • an ongoing increase in the numbers of new growers around the state, especially CEA growers; • the changing regulatory environment (federal PSR water standards and untreated soil applications, state and local regulations regarding food code interpretation, new market opportunities requiring a validated on-farm food safety program); and • new scientific information. Activities and techniques, Objective 2: Bringing in experts to meet with growers at CFVGA annual conference to provide regulatory updates and direct growers to resources. (February, 2024) 40 growers attended session on Ag Water Rule which included demonstration of Colliert testing Maintaining a complete set of tools and resources that are cross-referenced on CFVGA's website and on the Collaborative's website, coproducesafety.org. (August, 2024) Hold four one-day PSR Produce Safety Alliance training workshops to continue required education under FSMA and prepare new and exempt growers for the evolving regulatory environment. (September, 23 to May, 2024) Held 2 online and 2 in-person workshops training 42 growers and 41 ag professionals Objective 3: Increasing growers' ability to implement tools and risk management strategies Results from CSU Extension's 2018 survey indicate that growers prefer classroom-style learning, followed by instructional videos and farm-based workshops. The most effective way to learn how to use up-to-date resources on agricultural water management and testing, develop skill-level and language-appropriate worker training programs, develop a sanitizer management program is through hands-on learning. This set of strategies and tools builds on knowledge gained through prior experiences and is cumulative. Growers who begin to understand the relevance of produce safety for their farms will make an investment in further education such as attending a PSR training class or a food safety plan development workshop, after which they are ready to build out their tools and practices in a way that reduces risks identified on their own farms and develops the capabilities of their staff. Activities and techniques, Objective 3: The project team will achieve this objective by developing and delivering 5 technical workshops. (August, 2024). Topics could include: Produce Field Day Sept, 23- 71 participants Fresh Produce Safety- ARDEC South https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eduardo-g-26976048_ardecsouth-field-day-activity-7108935738427133952-9Cs3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop May, 2024 - 23 participants Exploring Colorado Agricultural Systems ARDEC south https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eduardo-g-26976048_the-even-flows-of-the-week-give-us-challenges-activity-7197654060135555072-ufBm/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Greenhouse Food Safety Practices April, 2023 poster- Microbiomes within control environment agriculture: an initial look into the distribution of microorganisms within air, plant, and fertilizer solutions. Presented at Colorado State University Research Symposium August 2024 pamphlet- Risk Assessment in Controlled Environment Agriculture- Focus on leafy greens Good Agriculture Practices- Durango Hands-on workshop- March, 2024- 15 participants Hesperus, CO- Old Fort Farmer Training Program (May, 24)- 17 participants GoFarm Intro to Produce Safety- Online; April, 24- 20 participants GoFarm In person - April, 24- 15 participants Cleaning and Sanitizing Hands on Workshop Montrose, CO - January , 2024 10 participants with Spanish interpretation Working with Wildlife- Western Colorado Soil Health, Food and Farm Forum Montrose, CO - January, 2024- 20 participants Supply Chain Risks Mt Freshies- 15 participants Colorado Farmers Market Association Webinar Online- 15 participants Risk Assessment Workshop (RAW)- 12 hour online course Online course, October 2024- 9 participants
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Ag Water Rule Opens with a Splash at Annual CFVGA Conference
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Risk Assessment in Controlled Environment Agriculture- Focus on leafy greens (pamphlet)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Microbiomes within control environment agriculture: an initial look into the distribution of microorganisms within air, plant, and fertilizer solutions. (Poster at Colorado State University Research Symposium)
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is new, beginning and experienced commercial produce growers in Colorado from scales less than one acre up to 1000+ acres of fruits and vegetables. Some of these produce growers will be Latino. Some will be socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. Our team currently has no data the on the demographics of the populations among produce growers in Colorado, however, by observation, we know they exist and attend our educational programs. Further, these are beginning and experienced produce growers in 4 distinct produce growing regions of Colorado: Front Range (11 Counties), Tri River Area (3 Counties), San Luis Valley (6 Counties), Southwest Colorado (3 Counties). We had strong participation among beginning farmers and BIPOC organizations in this performance period. Changes/Problems:We had 3 key project team members leave the project, which reduced our output potential. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Beth LaShell attended the 2023 Western Regional Center for Extension Food Safety meeting, presenting our project accomplishments, attended educational sessions, and networked with other food safety professionals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The team has used a multi-media approach, delivering in-person content and producing webinars, as well as developing fact sheets, posting social media content, updating web site content and producing other resources that will help growers understand a range of topics related to produce safety and implement actions on their farms to reduce produce safety risks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project team will continue to develop content and resources as outlined in the grant proposal but will deliver more content virtually as needed. We have discovered particular interest from underserved populations requesting trainings and will continue to reach out to those groups to build on their interests and deliver trainings that meet their specific needs.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Increasing growers' food safety understanding regarding: the importance of produce safety and the role of GAPs. We developed and delivered twoFood Safety Begins on the Farm training to 21participants with 100% reporting knowledge gained. creating a food safety culture. No additional progress. conducting a risk assessment. We developed and deliveredIdentifying and Managing Risks in Packing Areas to 10 participants and 90% reported knowledge gained. documenting policies, procedures and other records that support a food safety program. No additional progress. 2. Increasing and enhancing education on new regulations, buyer requirements, and tools regarding: the Produce Safety Rule: We conducted 4 PSA grower trainings reaching 45 partipants with 94% - 100% reporting knowledge gained and 85% - 100% reporting intent to use knowledge gained. how to develop a food safety plan. No additional progress. 3. Increasing growers' ability to implement tools and risk management strategies to: locate up-to-date resources on agricultural water management and testing.No additional progress. develop their own worker training program in the appropriate language and format for their workers (employees, interns, apprentices, volunteers).No additional progress. use best practices for taking and interpreting water samples.No additional progress. mix and manage sanitizers. We developed and delivered a Cleaning and Sanitizing workshop to 3 participants with 100% reporting knowledge gained and intent to use knowledge gained. develop individual food safety plans.No additional progress. 4. Developing peer groups to support and educate growers, to share their experiences and knowledge with other Colorado growers through: a producer advisory committee. No progress. a regional exchange program. No progress. enhanced content made available on social media platforms. No progress. mentoring program. No progress.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Cold Storage for Produce Farms: Best Practices for Quality, Efficiency, and Produce Safety
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Identifying and Managing Risks in Packing Areas
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is new, beginning and experienced commercial produce growers in Colorado from scales less than one acre up to 1000+ acres of fruits and vegetables. Some of these produce growers will be Latino. Some will be socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. Our team currently has no data the on the demographics of the populations among produce growers in Colorado, however, by observation, we know they exist and attend our educational programs. Further, these are beginning and experienced produce growers in 4 distinct produce growing regions of Colorado: Front Range (11 Counties), Tri River Area (3 Counties), San Luis Valley (6 Counties), Southwest Colorado (3 Counties). We had strong participation among beginning farmers and BIPOC organizations in this performance period. Changes/Problems:We had 3 key project team members leave the project, which reduced our output potential. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team facilitated delivery of: 5 Technical workshops: GAPs Audit Training for Beginning Farmers, Ag Water Update and Preharvest Risk Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, a food safety field day, Water Treatment and Produce Traceability 2 GAPs Trainings 5PSA grower trainings 3 Intro to Food Safety Courses 3 PSR Updates from Colorado Department of Agriculture How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The team has used a multi-media approach, delivering in-person content and producing webinars, as well as developing fact sheets, posting social media content, updating web site content and producing other resources that will help growers understand a range of topics related to produce safety and implement actions on their farms to reduce produce safety risks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project team will continue to develop content and resources as outlined in the grant proposal but willdeliver more content virtually as needed. We have discovered particular interest from underserved populations requesting trainings and will continue to reach out to those groups to build on their interests and deliver trainings that meet their specific needs..
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Increasing growers' food safety understanding regarding: the importance of produce safety and the role of GAPs: Delivered edu session "GAP Audits for Beginning Farmers" for 23 attendees, 100% reported knowledge gained, Produced "Are You Covered" slides and questionairre for grower trainings creating a food safety culture: Produced materials for "Health and Hygiene Tailgate Training" for farm culture of food safety conducting a risk assessment: Delivered edu session "Preharvest Risk Assessment and Ag Water Update" for 26 attendees, 100% reported knowledge gained, documenting policies, procedures and other records that support a food safety program. Delivered edu session "Environmental Monitoring" for 9 attendees, 100% reported knowledge gained 2. Increasing and enhancing education on new regulations, buyer requirements, and tools regarding: the Produce Safety Rule. Delivered 5 PSA trainings to 75 attendees with 96-100% reporting knowledge gained and 82-98% reporting intent to change behavior how to develop a food safety plan:Produced "Aggregators Best Practices Checklist" for intermediaries to improve food safety practices, produced series of GAPs videos, including on overview of GAPs and information on safely using soil amendments. 3. Increasing growers' ability to implement tools and risk management strategies to: locate up-to-date resources on agricultural water management and testing develop their own worker training program in the appropriate language and format for their workers (employees, interns, apprentices, volunteers)Produced materials for Health and Hygiene Tailgate Training for farm trainings use best practices for taking and interpreting water samples.Delivered edu session "Preharvest Risk Assessment and Ag Water Update" for 26 attendees, 100% reported knowledge gained mix and manage sanitizers. Finalized cleaning and sanitizing app for produce growers. develop individual food safety plans. No progress 4. Developing peer groups to support and educate growers, to share their experiences and knowledge with other Colorado growers through: a producer advisory committee. No progress a regional exchange program. No progress enhanced content made available on social media platforms. Delivered weekly content throughout the performance period. mentoring program. No progress
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Ag water overview and preharvest risk assessement session at CFVGA annual conference
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Gap Audits for beginning farmers at CFVGA annual conference
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Environmental Monitoring
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is new, beginning and experienced commercial produce growers in Colorado from scales less than one acre up to 1000+ acres of fruits and vegetables. Some of these produce growers will be Latino. Some will be socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. Our team currently has no data the on the demographics of the populations among produce growers in Colorado, however, by observation, we know they exist and attend our educational programs. Further, these are beginning and experienced produce growers in 4 distinct produce growing regions of Colorado: Front Range (11 Counties), Tri River Area (3 Counties), San Luis Valley (6 Counties), Southwest Colorado (3 Counties). Changes/Problems:Covid challenges to team personal lives and workflows was a factor in productivity in the past performance period. Pivots to remote delivery and video production were also challenging. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team facilitated delivery of: Ag water treamentspresentation at the 2021 Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Annual conference Food Safety Plan creating workshop 7 Intro to food safety plan workshops 3 PSA grower trainings FSMA updatespresentation at the 2021 Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Annual conference Compost tea best practicespresentation at the 2021 Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Annual conference Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting webinar GAPs workshop How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The team has used a multi-media approach, delivering in-person content and producing webinars, as well as developing fact sheets, posting social media content, updating web site content and producing other resources that will help growers understand a range of topics related to produce safety and implement actions on their farms to reduce produce safety risks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project team will continue to develop content and resources as outlined in the grant proposal but will deliver deliver more content virtually as needed, given COVID19 restrictions on gatherings and target audience hesitancy to gather even in the absence of such restrictions. Additionally, we plan to produce videos if needed in place of other live trainings to reach project goals. Covid restrictions to in person gatherings in 2022 remains to be seen, but we are prepared to provide remote delivery as needed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Increasing growers' food safety understanding regarding: the importance of produce safety and the role of GAPs Two GAPs videos and 7 intro to food safety workshops were conducted. Workshops reached 47 people creating a food safety culture 7 intro to food safety workshops were conducted. Workshops reached 47 people conducting a risk assessment Produced "Pre-harvest Risk Assessement Checklist and Decision Tree" plus"Animal Activity Decision Tree" documenting policies, procedures and other records that support a food safety program Produced "Understanding USDA GAP Audits in Colorado" video 2. Increasing and enhancing education on new regulations, buyer requirements, and tools regarding: the Produce Safety Rule Produced "Aggregators Best Practices Checklist" how to develop a food safety plan Delivered Food Safety Plan workshop to 17 attendees 3. Increasing growers' ability to implement tools and risk management strategies to: locate up-to-date resources on agricultural water management and testing Launched website to help growers locate water testing facilities develop their own worker training program in the appropriate language and format for their workers (employees, interns, apprentices, volunteers) Produced "Employe Tailgate Training" posters use best practices for taking and interpreting water samples Produced 2 water sampling videos mix and manage sanitizers Produced and recorded webinar "Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting" develop individual food safety plans Delivered Food Safety Plan workshop to 17 attendees 4. Developing peer groups to support and educate growers, to share their experiences and knowledge with other Colorado growers through: a producer advisory committee A producer advisory group was seated and convened to help guide and refine project activities and outputs a regional exchange program No progress enhanced content made available on social media platforms Delivered one post per week for 52 weeks on Facebook and Instragram pages for Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative mentoring program No progress
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
FSMA Updates at Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 2021 annual conference
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Compost tea best practices at Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 2021 annual conference
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Ag Water Treatments at Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 2021 annual conference
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is new, beginning and experienced commercial produce growers in Colorado from scales less than one acre up to 1000+ acres of fruits and vegetables. Some of these produce growers will be Latino. Some will be socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. Our team currently has no data the on the demographics of the populations among produce growers in Colorado, however, by observation, we know they exist and attend our educational programs. Further, these are beginning and experienced produce growers in 4 distinct produce growing regions of Colorado: Front Range (11 Counties), Tri River Area (3 Counties), San Luis Valley (6 Counties), Southwest Colorado (3 Counties). Changes/Problems:COVID19 impeded the project team's ability to deliver planned in person events. Some team members time and effort were diverted into COVID19 response during the first and second quarters of 2020, causing additional delays in project outputs. Due to these conditions, we have delivered outputs virtually when possible and have planned for more project outputs to be video products, giving us both the flexibility of asynchrous delivery and transmission of educational outputs across various web based platforms. Collecting evaluation data becomes more problematic when content is delivered asynchronously (videos, social media, etc.) and during live webinars. Response rates from webinar participants is low and when technically possible, response rates from asynchronous outputs is almost zero. We are uncertain at this time how to effectivly gather outcomes other than reporting page views. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project team has provided 5 Produce Safety Alliance trainings, 3 Intro to Food Safety trainings, 1 webinar on pre-harvest field assessments, 1 webinar on cleaning and sanitizing older produce handling equipment, 1 conference presentation on the fundamentals of cleaning and sanitizing, and one conference presentation on strategies to reduce food safety risks in leafy greens. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The team has used a multi-media approach, delivering in-person content and producing webinars, as well as developing fact sheets, posting social media content, updating web site content and producing other resources that will help growers understand a range of topics related to produce safety and implement actions on their farms to reduce produce safety risks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project team will continue to develop content and resources as outlined in the grant proposal but will deliverdeliver more content virtually, given COVID19 restrictions on gatherings and target audience hesitancy to gather even in the absence of such restrictions. Additionally, we plan to produce videos in place of other live trainings to reach project goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Colorado produce growers know that improper production and handling of fruits and vegetables can lead to microbiological contamination that can pose human health risks, yet recent survey responses from 325 Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule training graduates showed that only 43% have a written food safety plan. However, according to a Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers survey, 85% felt that food safety was important while only 55% felt that having a written food safety plan was important. Given that one of the deadliest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent US history (Listeria monocytogenes on cantaloupe in 2011 from southeast Colorado killed 33 people) occurred in Colorado, one would expect that the state's growers would have much more rapid adoption of strategies and tactics to reduce known food safety risks. Food safety training is our imperative to reduce the risk of future foodborne illness stemming from produce farms in Colorado. In this first year of the project, our team trained 255 Colorado produce growers and were able to evaluate 155 of those participants. Outputs included conference presentations, webinars, and Produce Safety Alliance trainings.Averaging all evaluation data from all training events, 93% reported knowledge gained on topics detailed in project goals due to these outputs. Progress on stated goals is as follows: 1. Increasing growers' food safety understanding regarding: the importance of produce safety and the role of GAPs 4 Intro to Food Safety classes were conducted reaching 80 participants One conference presentation was delivered, reaching 29 participants, 100% gained knowledge creating a food safety culture 4 Intro to Food Safety classes were conducted reaching 80 participants conducting a risk assessment One webinar was delivered, detailing pre-harvest assessment best practices One webinar was delivered, explaining how to clean and sanitize older produce handling equipment documenting policies, procedures and other records that support a food safety program 5 Produce Safety Alliance trainings were delivered reaching 106 participants, 92% on average gained knowledge 2. Increasing and enhancing education on new regulations, buyer requirements, and tools regarding: the Produce Safety Rule 5 Produce Safety Alliance trainings were delivered reaching 106 participants, 90% on average gained knowledge how to develop a food safety plan 4 Intro to Food Safety classes were conducted reaching 80 participants 3. Increasing growers' ability to implement tools and risk management strategies to: locate up-to-date resources on agricultural water management and testing Website development is constantly updated as new content is developed by the team develop their own worker training program in the appropriate language and format for their workers (employees, interns, apprentices, volunteers) Curriculum development is underway Modular training materials are in production to assist farmers with on-farm worker training use best practices for taking and interpreting water samples Curriculum development is underway mix and manage sanitizers One conference presentation was delivered, reaching 20 participants, 100% gained knowledge develop individual food safety plans No progress to date 4. Developing peer groups to support and educate growers, to share their experiences and knowledge with other Colorado growers through: a producer advisory committee A producer advisory group was seated and convened to help guide and refine project activities and outputs a regional exchange program No progress to date enhanced content made available on social media platforms Colorado Produce Safety Collaborate Facebook page and Instagram page have been launched mentoring program Currently taking applications
Publications
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