Michigan's Produce Safety Risk Assessment (PSRA) has been recognized as a powerful tool to drive voluntary compliance with State and Federal laws. A group of outreach professionals, the Innovative Small Farms Outreach Program (ISFOP) at Lincoln University, is adopting the PSRA as part of their outreach efforts. To better orient them to the tool, Michigan State University conducted a one-day training with ISFOP staff. It was well received.
Produce Assessment Training for the ISFOP staff
Seven ISFOP staff attended. The Lincoln University Carver Farm was a perfect location for this effort.
The trainer was Phil Tocco, Small Farm Educator from Michigan University and State Coordinator for On Farm Food Safety. Training consisted of two components: 1. learning the new Michigan Produce Safety Risk Assessment tool for educators and 2. on-farm activity learning how to apply the tool. This is a farmer friendly confidential tool for educators to evaluate farm practices prior to their MDA farm inspection. No other non-regulatory educational opportunity exists to help the farmer before their inspection. The tool is non-regulatory in nature. After the evaluation the educators leave the farm with an action plan so the farmer can make changes to meet the required Produce Safety Rule.
The ISFOP staff were extremely appreciative of this opportunity, and they all indicated the tool will be very helpful to them and they will use it. The training had excellent interactive discussions and activities learning how to use the tool. Several of the newer staff indicated this was their first exposure to learning about produce safety and training how to work with farmers. Cindy found free online trainings for the new staff and shared.
As a result of the training several ISFOP have reached out for more food safety information to help them do their jobs. The ISFOP educators are now all qualified to conduct training in how to use this tool. This is the first in Missouri.