Et cetera : Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Workshops Scheduled for Spring

Along with the increasing consumer interests in buying locally

WHAT ARE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES?

Good Agricultural Practices, or GAPs, are a set of recommendations that can help improve the quality and safety of the produce you grow. These general guidelines can be adapted and/or incorporated into any production system. GAPs focus on four primary components of production and processing:

1. SOIL

1. WATER

1. PERSONNEL

1. SURFACES

What can GAP workshops do for me?

• Give you the knowledge to improve the quality and safety of your produce.

• Aid you in identifying potential risks on your farm that may compromise the quality and safety of your produce.

• Help you establish a food safety plan for your farm that documents your risk reduction efforts.

• Evidence of continual education

grown foods come food safety expectations from buyers. Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP, certification can be used by fruit and vegetable producers to meet buyer requirements for food safety. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will hold GAP workshops this fall for farmers who sell directly to consumers and those considering sales to retail food services.

The one-day workshops are offered as Level 1: KNOW and Level 2: SHOW. Level 1 is training for growers who provide food to consumers through community–supported agriculture or farmers’ markets, or are considering retail foodservice sales. Training covers good agriculture best practices and market considerations.

Level 2 workshops guide farmers in the development of a written farm food safety plan. Farmers considering sales to retail food services such as grocers, restaurants, hospitals and other institutions, and those interested in adding value to fresh produce and selling products in a convenience form will have the tools to demonstrate GAPs are in place after attending the workshop. Farmers then can offer food safety assurances to buyers.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach faculty and specialists instructing the workshops include Angela Shaw and Heather Snyder, food safety; Catherine Strohbehn, food safety and local foods systems; and Linda Naeve, value added agriculure. The workshops are funded through a grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

2014 GAP workshop schedule

REGISTRATION for On-Farm Food Safety Trainingu

Date Level Location Deadline

Feb 4th 1 Johnson County Extension Office ( 3109 Old Highway 218 South, Iowa City) Jan. 29th

Feb. 27th 2 Johnson County Extension Office Feb. 21st

Feb. 15th 1 Warren County Extension Office (909 E 2nd Ave # E, Indianola, IA 50125) Feb. 8th

Feb. 22nd 2 Warren County Extension Office Feb. 15th

The fee is $25 per workshop with discounts for farms and multiple level participation. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion following the program. Registration can be made directly online at http://bit.ly/12sLsxE. Additional information can be found at http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/angela-shaw-food-safety/good-agricultural-practices-workshop/.

If you have questions or would like to book a date, please contact Heather Snyder at 515-294-9020 or email at hsnyder@iastate.edu.

WHAT ARE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES?

Good Agricultural Practices, or GAPs, are a set of recommendations that can help improve the quality and safety of the produce you grow. These general guidelines can be adapted and/or incorporated into any production system. GAPs focus on four primary components of production and processing:

1. SOIL

1. WATER

1. PERSONNEL

1. SURFACES

What can GAP workshops do for me?

• Give you the knowledge to improve the quality and safety of your produce.

• Aid you in identifying potential risks on your farm that may compromise the quality and safety of your produce.

• Help you establish a food safety plan for your farm that documents your risk reduction efforts.

• Evidence of continual education

LEVEL ONE | KNOW

Farmers who provide food directly to consumers through community-supported agriculture (CAS), farmers’ markets or who are considering retail foodservice sales will be trained in good agricultural practices and market considerations.

Includes educational materials packet and working lunch.

what will be covered?

• On-farm food safety fundamentals including Good Agricultural Practices

• Basic Food Regulations (on-line)

• Basic Food Microbiology (on-line)

outcomes

• Participants will have basic knowledge of food microbiology and food regulations

• Will be able to move on to Level Two GAP training

LEVEL TWO | SHOW

Farmers who are considering sales to retail foodservices, such as grocers, restaurants, hospitals and other institutions and those interested in adding value to fresh produce and selling products in a convenience form.

Includes educational materials packet and
working lunch.

what will be covered?

• Working session to develop an on-farm food safety plan with technical coaches

• Marketing Plan Basics

outcomes

• Participants will complete a written On-Farm Food Safety Plan

LEVEL thREE | GO

Trained farmers will be GAP-audit ready and fully equipped to service large-scale food distribution.

Includes a group on-farm mock inspection and technical assistance example related to market plans.

what will be covered?

• Mock GAP Audit

• Market readiness

outcomes

• Participants will be prepared for a
  third-party GAP audit