FOOD SAFETY OUTREACH FOR EMERGING NEW AMERICAN AND BEGINNER FARMERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

ORIS has operated an incubator farming program with resettled refugee and other immigrant ("New American") beginning farmers since 2008 and launched a regional food hub during 2020.This project will leverage that experience to deliver linguistically and culturally food safety education and outreach with these target populations that adhere to Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training content standards and result in AFDO certification. These producers' and processors' attainment of this certification will allow ORIS's nascent Fresh Start Farms Food Hub to remain complaint with Food Safety and Modernization Act standards and regulations and expand its mission of delivering local, affordable food to all residents of southern New Hampshire.Objective 1: 8 ORIS staff / interpreters complete the Produce Safety Alliance's (PSA) Train-the-Trainer and, for the Project Director and Food Safety Advisor, the PSA's Lead Trainer Supplemental Application, to competently deliver the full Grower Training course and refresher courses with New American farmers and other small- and medium-sized food producers and processors, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged farmers throughout New Hampshire.Objective 2: 25 New American farmers and at least 25 other small, beginning, and/or socially disadvantaged farmers, producers, and processors complete the seven-module PSA Grower Training curriculum and receive an AFDO certificate. At least 25 of these individuals complete at least one Refresher Course before the end of the project period.Objective 3: 95% of project participants who complete the PSA Grower Training and receive an AFDO certificate will, on linguistically appropriate surveys, demonstrate a basic understanding of the major subjects, six months following their receipt of certification.