Winter Trainings for food safety - includes farmer/ buyer networking sessions

Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, food safety

Winter is a great time to update your knowledge and skills for your farm, including on-farm food safety topics. There is a lot of increased interest in farm to school, food hubs and retail and these markets often require food safety training and education, a food safety plan, and sometimes a GAP audit. A Produce Safety Mini Grant will be available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that will be open in February 2023, and the certificate provided via this training can also be used for this application. 

New this year! All in-person trainings will include a bonus farmer/buyer networking event after the GAPs training to connect local farmers and buyers, hosted by Renewing the Countryside. The farmer/buyer networking will be a facilitated connection time to meet prospective buyers and talk about potential connections for sales to these markets.

Agenda for all in-person trainings:
10:00am - 2:00pm: GAPs training (for fruit and vegetable producers) (lunch included)
2:15pm - 3:15pm: Farmer/ buyer networking (for both farmers and buyers)

Cost: $15 per farm, includes lunch, certificate of attendance and a small gift bag of various cleaning supplies for all participants. All classes will close at capacity - register early. Scholarships are available to cover the cost of this course. (Please email jenri001@umn.edu for scholarship info). One participant at each training will win a set of handwashing stand supplies!

Dates and Locations for in-person trainings:
Aitkin, December 1, 2022
Virginia, December 2, 2022
Red Wing, December 19, 2022
Willmar, January 11, 2023
Fargo-Moorhead, January 12, 2023
Rochester, January 18, 2023
Northfield, February 8, 2023
St. Paul, February 16, 2023
Falcon Heights (Hmong language) February 28, 2023* (no farmer/buyer networking)
Falcon Heights (Hmong language), March 1, 2023* (no farmer/buyer networking)
Mankato, March 14, 2023

Register and more information here: z.umn.edu/GAPtraining

Farm to School trainings for school food service professionals will follow each of the networking sessions from 3:30 - 4:30. If you are a school food service buyer interested in learning more, see more information here. Questions: Email Sami Burington at Samantha.Burington@state.mn.us

Online GAPs Half-Day Training Course

Can’t get to an in-person training? This 3.5-hour online course offers the same in-depth look at GAPs on the farm as the in-person trainings and is a "one stop shop" to learn about food safety best practices in the production, washing, packing, storage and transport of fresh produce. These trainings are taught by UMN Extension and experienced farmer trainers.

Jan 23, 2023: 1:00pm - 4:30pm (via Zoom)
March 2, 2023: 9:00am - 12:30pm (via Zoom)

Cost: $15 per farm, includes certificate of attendance. Classes will close at capacity - register early. Scholarships are available to cover the cost of this course. (Please email jenri001@umn.edu for scholarship info). One participant at each training will win a set of handwashing stand supplies!

Register here: z.umn.edu/GAPtraining

FSMA Produce Safety Rule Training

This course meets the training requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule for farms fully covered by the Produce Safety Rule. This regulatory training is offered in conjunction with the MDA Produce Safety Program and is led by UMN Extension, MDA staff and experienced farmer trainers. All growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend. The certificate of attendance offered is good for life.

Jan 26, 2023 in-person: 8:45am - 5:00pm (lunch included) Minnesota Farmers Union, 305 Roselawn Ave., St. Paul, MN 55117
Feb 14 and 15, 2023 two-day online: 8:45am - 1:00pm each day (via Zoom)
March 9, 2023 online: 8:45am - 5:00pm (via Zoom)

Cost: $15, includes training materials and certificate of completion.

Register: www.mda.state.mn.us/fsmatraining (registration for the FSMA courses will not be open until early December)

Questions? Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/producesafety or contact (651) 539-3648; producesafety.mda@state.mn.us.