The Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (necafs)

Project SummaryThe Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) is a regional effort to consolidate foodsafety outreach and education efforts in a collaborative and consistent manner through strongnetwork facilitation, peer review, consensus-driven curricula and resource sharing. This regionalnetwork complements national and other regional centers in this joint effort to improve foodsafety through Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) related educational and researchinitiatives. The long-term goal of NECAFS is to provide a sustainable, comprehensive foodsafety training, education and technical assistance program that assists small and mid-sizedfood producers and processors with FSMA compliance. The project's overall objective is to buildthe regional network infrastructure necessary to support a national food safety system thatincreases the understanding and adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, andprotocols for those affected by FSMA. Our target audience includes owners and operators ofsmall and medium-sized produce farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers,small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers in the Northeastregion. We will achieve these goals by pursuing the following objectives: Establish FoundationalStructure - This objective captures the Development and Implementation components of theproject including Early-Stage Center Structure, Outreach, Recruitment and Training Plan,Center Strategic Plan Development & Development of a Communication Plan. Build Capacity,Competency and Collaboration - We will recruit and develop the regional "network" byleveraging the collective expertise of University partners and FDA to provide comprehensiveinformation and educational events on topics related to FSMA regulations. Develop Curriculaand Deliver Educational Programs - We will connect regulatory development and compliancerequirements with science-based research and educational programs through cooperativeactivities between NECAFS partners, FDA, and Northeast state departments of agriculture.Evaluate and Assess Progress and Impact - Our guiding principle is to Make a Positive Impact:To Participants, To Trainers, & To Science. We will ensure this by implementing an