The Cooperative Extension Service’s Local, Regional and Safe Foods team announced on May 18 that it will offer a free produce safety grower training for Arkansas producers in Forrest City on June 18. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Woodruff Electric Cooperative, with lunch, certification, materials and a manual provided at no cost. Registration is required by June 15.
The training aims to help fruit and vegetable growers in Arkansas manage food safety risks and comply with regulations affecting their operations. Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said the session will address important produce safety regulations, good agricultural practices and risk management strategies.
“Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers work hard to produce safe, high-quality produce for their communities, and this gives them the practical tools to do that with confidence,” Perez said. “Participants will learn how to identify and manage food safety risks in water, soil amendments, equipment and tools that they use every day.”
Perez also said: “Whether a grower is preparing for an audit, navigating Food Safety Modernization Act requirements, or simply wanting to strengthen on-farm practices, this training helps them protect their customers, expand market opportunities and support the long-term success of their farm.”
The program is funded through temporary support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule sets mandatory standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce; most farms are affected by these rules.
Trainers include Perez; Sarah Bakker, extension local food program lead; and Danielle Dozier from GSS Group. Topics covered range from worker health to postharvest handling as well as guidance on developing farm food safety plans.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service receives funding through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as state appropriations; it operates county offices across all counties in Arkansas using research centers throughout the state according to the official website. The service supports agriculture communities by delivering research-backed programs designed for rural as well as urban areas within its role under the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
