Enabling local produce growers and processors to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) through specialized, needs-specific resources and training opportunities - Enabling local produce growers and processors to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) through
specialized, needs-specific resources and training opportunities
This grant is a proposed collaboration between national and local organizations in several states to provide
specialized training and resources to small, diversified, sustainable, organic and identity-preserved agricultural
producers, including small growers, small-scale processors, and mixed facilities to ensure they meet the requirements
of the Food Safety Modernization Act. These collaborators allow our team to utilize a nationwide advocacy and
educational network, while teaming with local organizations that work directly with small and mid-size food
producers.
Contact: Barbara Patterson, National Farmers Union, bpatterson@nfudc.org, 202-554-1600
Key Personnel: Deanna Baldwin (Maryland Department of Agriculture), Betsy Bihn (Cornell University), Claudia Coles
(Washington Department of Agriculture), Barbara Patterson (National Farmers Union), Eric Hansen (National Young
Farmers Coalition), Sophie Ackoff (National Young Farmers Coalition), Roger Noonan (New England Farmers Union),
Lindsey Shute (National Young Farmers Coalition), Andrew Williams (Deep South Food Alliance)
Key Objectives of the proposal:
¿ Conduct a needs assessment for training, education, and technical assistance: Collaborators will use surveys
and listening sessions to prioritize the needs of local, diversified growers and small processors, and will
characterize local food production markets. Results from this needs assessment will guide the development
of resources targeted for specific regional commodities, languages, cultural groups, and markets.
¿ Develop a training plan for local producers, including workshops, trainings, and a grower liaison: Leverage
existing Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) and Food Safety Preventative Controls Alliance (FSPCA) curricula as a
basis for training local producers who are covered by FSMA. Additional workshops will be developed to build
upon critical concepts not adequately addressed in the existing PSA and FSPCA curricula. A grower liaison will
also be hired to serve the minority, low-income growers in the south by adapting materials and providing
one-on-one assistance and adapting materials for the community.
¿ Develop educational materials to supplement existing curricula: A basic guidebook will be created for local
producers to bridge the technical knowledge provided by the PSA and FSPCA. Resources will be developed
based on the needs assessment results, and may include factsheets addressing legal requirements and
comparing FSMA and third party audit requirements. Additional materials can be added to the guidebook to
modify for certain regional practices, markets and/or cultures.
¿ Develop national framework for communication with collaborators and local food producers: A website will
be created to organize the national framework by linking collaborators, including PSA and FSPCA, regional
coordination centers, and local outreach groups. The website will host resources, publicize trainings, and host
a national/regional directory of groups associated with small groups of farmers.
¿ Program evaluation and reporting: To ensure the objectives are being met, measuring the progress toward
the stated goals will be critical. Measurable impact on the targeted local producer audience will be
demonstrated using evaluation and validation techniques. These processes will allow similar efforts to be
replicated among other regions and local food groups not originally represented.
Funding sought via FDA RFA: Local Food Producer Outreach, Education, and Training to Enhance Food Safety and FDA
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Compliance
Funding: $1.5 million per year over three years, starting August 2016.
