Leveling Up Produce Safety Knowledge Among Underserved Communities by Building Local Capacity and Creating a Dynamic Peer Network

Objective 1: Increase availability of PSA Trainers among underserved communities by mentoring participants through a 3-tier training program (GT, TTT, PSA Advanced Trainer Workshop) to equip them with the scientific knowledge and technical expertise to support growers from their communities in implementing food safety practices to meet PSR and buyer requirements. This first objective will create a cadre of trusted PSA Trainers that can support fresh produce growers in their communities as they strive to meet market and regulatory demands for food safety. The 3-tiered program will provide comprehensive training on i) GAPs and FSMA PSR regulatory requirements through the PSA GT Course, ii) how to effectively conduct training for growers through the PSA TTT Course and iii) experiential learning to help participants practice key concepts they have learned and understand the science behind the PSR through the PSA Advanced Trainer Workshop.Objective 2: Create a dynamic peer-to-peer network to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange by wavering interactions among participants throughout the training program. This second objective will ensure participants in all three cohorts interact to build new relationships and create an environment for peer-to-peer learning. It is hoped this will result in professional support beyond the grant and lead to creative and collaborative problem solving.Objective 3: Evaluate fellows' knowledge acquisition and the program's impact on training delivery, communication skills, problem-solving, and overall technical expertise. This third objective will evaluate the impact of the overall program on participants and help assess if this approach is viable for reaching other underserved communities.