Innovative and supplementary food safety training, education, and outreach program for small and medium-sized food producers and processors

This project aims to develop and deliver science-based food safety educational outreach programs leveraging our current networks within the state to provide the local small and mid-sized food producers and processors with relevant tools and resources. A variety of training programs will be developed to cover key topics related to food safety and augment the standardized curriculum. The trainings will be offered in-person at different locations across the Washington state as well as online to facilitate the participation of stakeholders in remote locations. This will facilitate their ability to make knowledgeable and cost-effective management decisions pertaining to the production of safe and healthy produce and value-added products.The long-term goal of this project is to develop and deliver science-based food safety educational outreach programs to provide thousands of small and medium-sized food producers and processors with relevant tools and resources which will facilitate their ability to make knowledgeable and cost-effective management decisions pertaining to the production of safe and healthy products.The specific objectives for this proposal include:Provide existing training programsby the Project Directors to supplement the standardized FDA approved trainings in remote locations. This includes Current Good Manufacturing Practices, Basics of Sanitation, Environmental Monitoring Program, and Audit Readiness.Develop and provide new in-person training programs (with selected trainings to be offered in Spanish) that will help farmers and food producers to improve food safety and to comply with new FSMA regulations and marketplace requirements.Convert the developed training programs into an online interactive format that will enable farmers and food producers in remote locations to obtain training and improve food safety in their establishments.Provide standardized FDA approved training in remote locations, including PSA Grower Training and FSPCA Preventive Control for Human Food (PCHF) Training.