Latino Independent Farmers Trained in Organic Farm Food Safety

The goal of LIFT OFFS is to strengthen the food safety compliance capacity of beginning and socially disadvantaged farm-owners, field laborers and food safety professionals. It will also build the capacity and cohesion of the partner consortium itself. Building on the FSOP pilot, a new full-time Food Safety Manager (LIFT OFFS Co-PD) and a longstanding partnership with Carlson Food Safety Consulting, the project will extend our reach to off-site farms through collaboration with Community Alliance with Family Farmers and Hartnell College. This will be achieved through the 3 objectives, each of which provides customized assistance to a targeted group.Sixty (60) early-stage farms develop the knowledge to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) through intensive food safety training and technical assistance at ALBA. These include 24 farmers introduced to food safety standards in ALBA's 300-hour Farmer Education Course and 36 start-up farms in ALBA's Organic Farm Incubator gaining technical assistance.Sixty (60) regional farms strengthen their knowledge and capacity to comply with FSMA requirements through training and technical assistance. This includes a mix of ALBA alumni and other small-scale organic, Latino-owned farms in the region. They will have access to multiple off-site trainings and receive individual consultations under the project.One-hundred and eighty (184) students, field laborers, and food safety professionals develop knowledge and skills to address food safety service and skills gaps for regional Latino-owned farms and the wider industry. This activity will support numerous groups:4 Food safety service providers mentored and trained at ALBA:CAFF: Farm-to-Market Specialist will be mentored and trained at ALBA and attend standard 3rd party trainings qualifying her to train and consult to farms;ALBA: Project Director, Co-PD (PSA ToT), and Executive Director will attend off-site trainings and continue to be mentored by Carlson Food Safety Consulting.30 participants of the Farmer Education Course will take their training into the workforce.40 Field laborers working for farms in ALBA's incubator.50 Field laborers in Hartnell College's Farmworker Education Program.60 Students specializing in food safety at Hartnell College.?