Completed Project Report

Through the Local Produce Safety Initiative, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association provided technical assistance to 66 farmers in South Carolina to help them access new wholesale markets and reduce food safety risks on the farm. Specifically, we:

• Conducted four workshops on Principles of Fresh Produce Safety for 46 participants. Topics included land, worker health and hygiene, restroom and sewage, water, animals, manure, harvesting and packing equipment and containers, traceability, what to expect during a GAP audit, and how to communicate with a GAP auditor.
• Provided one-on-one food safety assistance to 20 growers. Nine passed a GAP audit and are selling into new wholesale markets, eight wrote and implemented food safety plans, and three wrote food safety plans, but have not yet implemented them.
• Conducted a Food Safety and Post-Harvest Handling workshop for 19 beginning farmers providing information on reducing food safety risks and increasing the shelf-life of produce.