Completed Project Report

Demystifying GAPS – implementing and auditing food safety on small scale direct-market farms.

  • Award Amount: $29,666
  • Regional Center: Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2011 Unrestricted Risk Management Education

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Project Overview

This food safety risk management project assisted small-scale Massachusetts farms and partner organizations to review and implement cost-effective on-farm food safety practices. A food safety community was developed at our incubator farmsite in Dracut, including 4 farmers. Over 50 producers received intensive individual technical assistance and consultation based on diversity in gender, ethnicity, geography, and production practices. Training sessions and on-farm technical assistance resulted in operational changes at the farm level. Farmers deepened knowledge of food safety regulations, cost-effective strategies to minimize food safety risks, and participated in “mock” food safety audits at participating farms. Communication and information sharing via a series of trainings, conference calls, meetings, field visits/audits, and web resources provided an opportunity for dozens of producers to develop and verify individualized food safety plans.

Number of Participants: 75

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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DELIVERY AREA

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