Food Safety Development, Education, and Local Technical Assistance Program (FSDELTA)

In the short term, this program aims to increase the number of GAP-certified farmers in the Mileston cooperative; facilitate knowledge of and compliance with relevant FSMA requirements; increase sales through wholesale channels for participating growers; and increase access to locally-grown fruits and vegetables in both rural and urban areas.However, the lasting and most important impact of this work is increased place-based capacity for food safety outreach and training within the co-op and across the Delta region. This program will create sustainable behavior change, improved food safety practices, and increased access to wholesale markets within the MFC. It will also provide a replicable model for increasing market access for other African-American grower co-ops throughout the Delta to emulate.