Expanding FSMA Produce Safety Rule Outreach to Underserved Diversified Fruit and Vegetable Farms in Minnesota

The goal of this project is to expand the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and FSMA PSR (Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule) training program at the University of Minnesota Extension to reach new audiences, adapt training materials to ensure alignment with FSMA PSR guidelines, and build capacity within stakeholder educators and partners to understand FSMA PSR and GAPs. We seek to establish a train-the-trainer program among key partners and stakeholders to leverage existing resources and build the capacity of diverse growers to follow GAPs and implement FSMA on their farms through education, support and technical assistance.1) Identify the specific food safety training and educational needs of produce farmers in Minnesota via a needs assessment with key stakeholder partners and input from a project advisory board;2) Update all existing GAPs training and food safety plan template materials to ensure they are consistent with new FSMA PSR guidelines;3) Create new culturally-appropriate FSMA PSR educational materials for Hmong, Latino, Tribal and Amish, small-acreage and diverse farmers such as short videos, factsheets;4) Expand GAPs workshops using new curricula to new audiences, including non-traditional farmer audiences such as Hmong, Latino, Tribal and Amish farmers; and5) Develop a train-the-trainer program, workshops and materials for farmers markets and market managers, buyers like distributors and food hubs, Extension educators and agricultural service organizations such as non-profits and farm insurance organizations that serve farmers to ensure an accurate understanding of FSMA and GAPs concepts.