• By Mary Jac Brennan
• Posted Thursday, November 6, 2014

Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Series

The first workshop, Principles of Fresh Produce Safety and Navigating the USDA GAP Audit, will combine classroom and on-farm instruction to provide producers with the tools needed to identify potential food safety concerns, as well as strategies to minimize potential contamination. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance that fulfills a portion of the eligibility requirements to receive up to $600 in GAPs Cost Share assistance from CFSA. The second workshop, Fresh Produce Safety Program and Plan Development, conducted in a computer lab, will provide direct assistance to producers in completing a fresh produce safety plan. Attendees will leave this session with a well-developed working draft of their specific food safety plan, which becomes the framework for an audit, and can be used to demonstrate individual farm risk-reduction steps. Completion of the first workshop is a prerequisite and basic computer knowledge is recommended in order to receive the maximum benefit from this session.

To register online, visit www.carolinafarmstewards.org and go to the events tab, or contact Anna MacDonald Dobbs, 919-542-2402, anna@carolinafarmstewards.org by November 14, 2014. Registration is $10 for the first workshop and $10 for the second workshop. Make checks payable to Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Lunch will be provided. Portions of the first workshop will take place outside. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a water bottle, and appropriate weather gear. The workshop will take place rain or shine. If you have additional questions regarding the workshop, please contact Trish Tripp, CFSA Local Produce Safety Coordinator at 336-458-6980 or trish@carolinafarmstewards.org.