BUILDING YOUR OWN FARM'S FOOD SAFETY MANUAL

JUNE 28, 2017

If you plan to develop a Food Safety Program for your fruit and/or vegetable farming operations, field or greenhouse, this one day workshop is tor you! Most intermediate or large chain store buyers now require some level of food safety program from each farm before they buy. Even smaller operations selling directly to consumers may be advised to develop a manual for their farm. This issue has become an important component of doing everyday business on today’s farms and will be even more important in the future. This class is intended for farmers beginning the process of developing a food safety plan. This class does not fulfill the new FDA FSMA requirement for one-time training.

The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service is offering a one day workshop to help growers actually develop their own food safety manuals. When you complete this one day workshop, you will have built the main parts of your own food safety manual and will understand what is needed to complete your plan.

The classes will be done on a computer (one laptop provided per farm upon request if needed) and will be limited to 20 farm’s, using a web-based food safety manual development program. Those farmers needing assistance on the computer can bring a computer-savvy helper.

The registration fee is $35 for the first person representing a farm and $15 for an additional attendee from that farm. The registration fee includes refreshments and lunch for the day. This training and educational materials are supported with funding from a Specialty Crops Block Grant through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

AGENDA

8:15 am - Check In/Computer Assignment and Set-up

8:30 am – Welcome/Introductions

8:45 am – Intro to Food Safety and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

9:30 am – Begin Building Your Manual

10:15 am – Break

10:30 am – Building Your Manual (cont.)

Noon – Lunch

1:00 pm – Review (FSMA) Manuals

1:30 pm – Introduction to GAP Forms Toolbox

2:15 pm - Mid-Afternoon Break

2:30 pm – Preparing for an Audit

3:30 pm – Photos of the Good, Bad or Ugly, Food Safety Issues

4:00 pm – Class Evaluations

4:30 pm – Workshop Adjourned

Topics To Be Discussed

• General Information

• Site Selection

• Adjacent Land Use

• Fertilizer Usage

• Water Usage

• Field Sanitation

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATORS:

Bob Hochmuth, Regional Specialized Vegetable Agent, Suwannee Valley Agriculture and Ext. Center

Martha B. Maddox, CEA IV, FCS/Food Systems, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

Dr. Whitney Elmore, UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Director & Urban Horticulture Agent III

Lei Lani Davis, Extension Program Coordinator Suwannee Valley Agriculture and Ext. Center