An official website of the United States government.
<ol> <li>To extend information about Fresh Produce Food Safety ('FPFS') programs and principles defined in the 'Guide' to commercial fresh fruit and vegetable handlers in the Southeastern United States,
<li>To provide hands-on assistance with USDA GAPs Certification Program implementation to commercial growers in the region, and
<li>To conduct research exploring the link between foodborne pathogenic organisms and the influence of packing procedures on survival of foodborne pathogens.</ol>
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project uses an integrated research, extension, and teaching program to expand a past project to impart knowledge and information on food safety to producers, consumers, and extension personnel.
<P>
APPROACH: The project is an integrated, multi-state, cooperative, multi-functional, multi-institutional, and multi-disciplinary effort. It employs extension, teaching, and research focusing on: 1) applied food safety research and 2) development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative food safety-based educational endeavors. The project directly addresses national food safety "priority issues". Project design incorporates food safety and food chain security as focal points of educational efforts, then initiates practical, producer-level research, teaching, and extension whereby food handling and safety issues are addressed in a systems context.
<P>
PROGRESS: 2003/09 TO 2005/09<BR>
Three more training sessions were conducted to inform and train farmers, packers, and others on Good Agricultural Practices and good handling and manufacturing practices. About 150 participants attended these sessions. Results from a survey sent to blueberry farmers showed significant gaps in knowledge of GAPs but more importantly in implementation of GAPs, including pesticide management methods. A follow-up survey in conjunction with another project is being conducted to finalize recommendations for further training and education to farmers and packinghouse operators. We conducted a total of six formal sessions and three smaller sessions on GAPs and GMPs. A training booklet and other materials were developed, in addition to the material sent from the PI in NCSU.
<BR><BR>
IMPACT: 2003/09 TO 2005/09<BR>
Through this project, we have reached most of the MS farmers and packers, in addition to many others in neighboring states of Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Additional targeted training and demonstrations, including exercises on developing food safety plans should enhance the readiness of our industry to minimize food safety hazards by fresh fruits and vegetables. Over 800 farmers, county agents, and others related to the fresh fruit and vegetable industry were reached through this project. This included medium and small farmers, including rural, low-income farmers.