Description
Many farmers will sell their produce at farmers markets, which is one way to get their produce into their community, support the local economy, and increase profits. The safety of produce is essential for their continued growth so consumers have confidence in their products.
This self-paced course will provide you the knowledge to understand the science and causes of foodborne illness, the best practices to decrease the risk of contaminating produce, and how to safely display and sell produce at the market. Some of the topics covered in this course include:
- Land Use
- Water Use
- Manure and Soil Amendments
- Hygiene, Health, and Training
- Toilet and Handwashing Facilities
- Harvesting and Storage
- Transporting Produce Safety
- Food Safety at the Market
This course is intended for produce growers and farmers market produce vendors. This course does not meet the requirements set by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and is designed for those farms which are not covered by, or are exempt from, the Produce Safety Rule.
Course Schedule:
The training will be self-paced and offered online via Canvas.
Instructors:
Lester Schonberger, Associate Extension Specialist, FST
Sarah Sharpe, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Joell Eifert, Extension Specialist, FST
Renee Boyer, Professor and Extension Specialist, FST
If you need any assistance with registration, please contact our help line at vceprograms@vt.edu.
Notes
* A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. For more information, please contact Lester Schonberger at hlschon@vt.edu.
What's Next?
Virginia Cooperative Extension utilizes Canvas to offer this online program. After registering for this program, you will receive a registration confirmation email with detailed instructions for accessing the Canvas platform. If you don't see a confirmation email, be sure to check your spam or junk folder. You can also access the Canvas instructions here.
For more information about this program, please contact Lester Schonberger at hlschon@vt.edu.