Training Beginning, Socially Disadvantaged, and Organic Specialty Crop Producers in Food Safety / FSMA Compliance to Access Intermediated Markets

Through this Community Outreach Project proposal, our goal is to create multiple pathways to FSMA compliance and third-party certification for small and mid-sized specialty crop and organic producers looking to sell to institutions and other intermediated markets.Objective 1: Support at least 25 new and beginning producers per year to complete an 8-hr FSMA Produce Safety Rule grower training testing innovative educational delivery methods. Outcome: At least 50 new and beginning farmers will improve capacity to comply with FSMA by completing an 8-hr Produce Rule Grower Training on the Produce Safety Rule.Objective 2: Implement outreach activities (with translation as needed) to enhance FSMA/PSR understanding and compliance for beginning specialty crop producers across Massachusetts and through our national FIELD Network. Outcome: Implement two webinars/online outreach activities that increase food safety skills and knowledge for at least 30 new and beginning specialty crop farmers who report knowledge gained of food safety requirements, certifications, on-farm prevention, detection, control, and traceability. Share educational approach for food safety training and on-farm technical assistance with other agricultural service providers.Objective 3: Implement direct technical assistance for new and beginning farmers on our incubator farms, on our graduates' farms, and at the New Entry Food Hub. Direct technical assistance activities will include but not be limited to: a) farm site visits to assess compliance and support remediation; b) bookkeeping including invoicing systems for traceability and other communication around food safety during produce delivery windows at the New Entry Food Hub; and c) one-on-one support for creation of individual food safety plans and SOPs. Direct technical assistance will include translation services as required to ensure that socially disadvantaged farmers are not left behind by the Produce Safety Rule. Outcomes: At least 100 hours of FSMA direct 1:1 technical assistance will be provided to specialty crop producers by New Entry staff and consultants resulting in at least 20 new and beginning farmers who improve capacity to comply with FSMA requirements and complete a tiered FSMA Food Safety Plan for their specialty crop operations that addresses operational growth. This will be reported in our Annual Farmer Survey.Objective 4: Educate and support New Entry Food Hub producers on MDAR Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) requirements and support compliance. Disseminate existing food safety training materials to producers to prepare them for certification and audit visits. Conduct pre-audit visits with producers and host "take and make" trainings with producers to improve access to infrastructure needed to comply with on-farm audits. Provide direct technical assistance for beginning and limited resource farmers participating in the New Entry Food Hub. Outcomes: At least 20 producers will gain detailed knowledge of requirements for MDAR CQP audit program and at least 10 beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers who currently market produce through the New Entry Food Hub will participate in an on-farm "mock audit" with a trained food safety consultant to identify producer challenges and shortfalls to incorporate in future training modules. Results from the mock audits will be compiled into a report including farm successes, barriers, and next steps. New curriculum and training modules will be updated.Objective 5: Improve the training capacity of New Entry staff through ongoing FSMA training and professional development and regular communication, reporting, evaluation, and participation in NECAFS Regional Center learning groups for key New Entry staff to increase our organizational capacity to teach the FSMA Produce Rule and Preventative Controls to new and beginning specialty crop producers across Massachusetts. Outcomes: New Entry staff and interns will improve their PSA Trainer skills and competencies and participate in regular regional NECAFS meetings and calls to improve direct technical assistance about FSMA criteria and share educational strategies and producer outcomes. Regular reports will share progress, outcomes, and producer learning, adoption of practices, and behavior change.