Food Safety Outreach Program

 

The National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program will award grants that increase the understanding and adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, and protocols. Grants awarded through this program will be carried out in a manner that facilitates the integration of food safety standards and guidance with a variety of agricultural production and processing systems, including conventional, sustainable, organic, and conservation and environmental practices carried out by the eligible entities. The assistance provided by these programs shall be coordinated with and delivered in cooperation with similar services or assistance by other federal agencies or programs serving those eligible entities.

Active 10.328 National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 For FY 2016: The anticipated amount available for FY 2016 to support the Program is $4.7 million. We received 64 proposals (25 pilot, 25 community outreach and 14 multistate projects) and anticipate funding approximately 44 total awards. The estimated success rate for the program is approximately 35% -40%. Prior year funding was provided to establish the national infrastructure in FY 2015 as the National Food Safety Training, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program and in FY 2016 for the inaugural Food Safety Outreach Program including continuation awards. There were 64 applications received of which 10 pilot, 10 community outreach, and 4 multistate education projects have been funded at the level of $4,758,326.
Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year (FY) 2017: Prior year funding was provided to establish the national infrastructure in FY 2015 as the National Food Safety Training, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program and in FY’s 2016-2017 an expansion of this work was created to build the Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grant Program. For FY 2017, there were 43 applications received of which 10 pilot, 17 community outreach, and 16 multistate education projects have been funded at the level of $4.7 million.
Fiscal Year 2018 The amount available for FSOP awards was $6,663,007. The Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP): Created by the Food Safety Modernization Act (2011) (P.L. 111-353), FSOP awards grants to eligible recipients for projects that develop and implement Food Safety Modernization Act-related food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to owners and operations of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. These are audiences affected by new food safety guidelines established under FSMA. The national implementation strategy for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) began in fiscal years 15-16 between USDA NIFA and FDA CFSAN. They partnered to establish a national infrastructure that will provide Education, Extension, Outreach and Technical Assistance among 4 Regional Centers and 1 National Coordination Center. In FY 16, the program evolved to create: Pilot, Community Outreach, and Multistate Education and Outreach Projects under the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP). In FY 2018, the Food Safety Outreach Program further ingrained the national infrastructure by funding 4 new regional centers with one serving as the lead center to maintain the vigor of the program as the previous centers begin to close out. These centers support and coordinate training and outreach and identify outcomes, impacts, and needs assessment for their regions. In FY 19, the program supported Multi-State and Community based projects. Eligible applicants include state or territory Cooperative Extension Services; non-government organizations and community-based organizations that have expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety; federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; and institutes of higher education; and collaborations of at least two eligible entities. NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural sciences, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/Impacts, sign up for email updates, or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts.
Fiscal Year 2019 The amount available for FSOP awards was $7,589,498. The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, made several changes to the National Food Safety Training, education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program, otherwise known as the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP). The 2018 Farm Bill amendments to FSOP are applicable for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. NSAC encourages NIFA to include all of these changes in the FY19 FSOP RFA, as required by law, which includes the repeal of the match requirement, the repeal of the limitation on grant funds prohibiting an entity from receiving funding after three years, and the prioritization of projects that focus on beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers.
Fiscal Year 2020 The projected amount for FSOP awards is $3,749,498. If funding remains level, NIFA will continue to follow Congress’s intent, and prioritize FSOP funds for projects that provide food safety education and training to small, midsized, beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers. NIFA will also collect data from FSOP award recipients to ensure projects are serving these audiences.
Fiscal Year 2024 Pertinent details will be provided by Program at a later date. Drug Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 391 et seq. Section 209 of FSMA added section 1011, Subsection (d) entitled “National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach and Technical Assistance Program”. Paragraph (d)(1) requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding or cooperative agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture “to establish a competitive grant program within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture”. This program will award competitive grants to organizations to provide food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to owners and operators of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. The authority for the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program is under Section 405 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625). The Cooperative Extension Service for a U.S. state or territory; A non-profit community-based or non-governmental organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety; An institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education; Federal, State, Local, or Tribal Agencies, A collaboration of two or more eligible entities; or Such other appropriate entity, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Cooperative Extension Service for a U.S. state or territory; A non-profit community-based or non-governmental organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety; An institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education; Federal, State, Local, or Tribal Agencies, A collaboration of two or more eligible entities; or Such other appropriate entity, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. The System for Award Management (SAM) combines eight federal procurement systems, including CCR, and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. CCR activities are conducted through SAM (the CCR website will redirect users to SAM). Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number and System for Award Management (SAM): Each applicant (unless excepted under 2 CFR ? 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR ? 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid UEI number in its application; and (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. It also must state that the Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicants must furnish the information required in the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs). Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process. These include, but are not limited to the following: Organizational Management Information - Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one time basis, with updates on an as needed basis, as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of a grant identified under this RFA, if such information has not been provided previously under this or another NIFA program. NIFA will provide copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements as part of the preaward process. Although an applicant may be eligible based on its status as one of these entities, there are factors which may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual involved or a determination that an applicant is not responsible based on submitted organizational management information). This information collection is approved under OMB Circular Control No. 0524-0026, "Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights, Compliance and Organization Information." SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available as follows: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. An environmental impact assessment is not required for this listing. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. All Requests for Applications (RFAs) are published on the Agency’s website and Grants.gov. Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. Please see the following Grants.gov link for more information: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) only accepts electronic applications which are submitted via Grants.gov in response to specific Requests for Applications (RFA). Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. For information about the pre-award phase of the grant lifecycle application processes see: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html. Further, applicants must follow the instructions provided in the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide, which can be assessed as follows: Adobe NIFA Applications. 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and 2 CFR part 400 USDA's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the Competitive Request for Applications (RFA). 2 CFR 200 - Subpart C and Appendix I and 2 CFR part 400 apply to this Program. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. Contact the National Program Leader (NPL), as indicated per CFDA Section # 152 - Headquarters Office regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time. Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA's respective links regarding general information are provided below: http://nifa.usda.gov/ http://www.grants.gov. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFA is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. Not Applicable. 2 CFR Part 200 - Subparts D & E apply to this program. Specific details are provided in the Request for Applications (RFA), which are generally published annually. The most current RFA is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and 2 CFR part 400 USDA's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFAs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program The new National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance proposals are expected to describe Regional Centers that have a leading role in coordinating the development of FSMA-related training, education, and outreach programs and resources for small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, and/or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. An outreach plan for conducting education and training to a cadre of regional FSMA trainers must be developed, along with an implementation plan for extending both training and technical assistance to the targeted audiences of farmers, processors and vendors in the respective regions. In addition, the Regional Centers must work collaboratively with a National Coordination Center for Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance to ensure that training curricula and resources cover core competencies across all funded regional centers, and to provide annual reports to NIFA on overall program objectives. Performance Reports: PERFORMANCE MONITORING: See above for pertinent and specific details. Relation to other audit requirements, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO). This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. In accordance with 2 CFR Part 400 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, ? 200.334 Retention requirements for records. Grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three (3) year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D applies to this program. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. In accordance with statutory time limits, project periods, including no-cost extensions of time, vary from (1) to five (5) years. Further details are provided in the Award document Form NIFA-2009 and the NIFA General Terms and Conditions Grants and Cooperative Agreements (dated October 2016) at: https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-general-terms-and-conditions-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-october-2016. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. NIFA utilizes the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system that allows federal agencies to administer funds. Currently, ASAP is the only payment source for new NIFA grantees. National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205 Courier/Package Delivery Address: 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061 USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (IFSN)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205,
Courier/Package Delivery Address:
2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061
Kansas City, MO 64141 US
Jodi.Williams@usda.gov
Phone: 202-424-9722 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/food-safety-outreach-program 12-0502-0-1-352 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$9,600,000.00; FY 23 est $9,600,000.00; FY 24 est $9,600,000.00; FY 21$9,600,000.00; FY 20$7,680,000.00; FY 19$7,680,000.00; FY 18$6,663,007.00; FY 17$4,760,653.00; FY 16$4,758,326.00; - SPECIAL NOTES: (1) The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislative authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years. If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive and/or capacity project grant, or cooperative agreement are established, these amounts will be announced in the annual Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFA is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program As an administrator of U.S. government support, NIFA works in partnership with grantees to ensure responsible stewardship of federal funds. Our grantees and partners are required to comply with all relevant rules and regulations. The following resources are provided to NIFA's partners and award recipients to support their adherence to federal regulations governing program performance: NIFA's primary (main) website: https://nifa.usda.gov/regulations-and-guidelines The following represent specific documents and direct links: POLICY GUIDE NIFA's Federal Assistance Policy Guide describes agency policies and procedures. https://nifa.usda.gov/policy-guide CERTIFICATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS Certifications and representations provided through the NIFA application process. https://nifa.usda.gov/certifications-and-representations ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF USDA SUPPORT BY NIFA When acknowledging USDA support in accordance with 2 CFR Part 415, grantees must use the following acknowledgement for all projects or initiatives supported by NIFA. https://nifa.usda.gov/acknowledgment-usda-support-nifa FEDERAL REGULATIONS The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists all regulations published in the Federal Register. https://nifa.usda.gov/federal-regulations FOIA The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides that any person has the right to request access to federal documents and information such as research data. https://nifa.usda.gov/foia NEPA POLICY AND GUIDANCE The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Policy and Guidance set the standard for identifying potential environmental impacts. https://nifa.usda.gov/nepa-policy-and-guidance OGFM ISSUED CORRESPONDENCE The Office of Grants and Financial Management occasionally issues correspondence to applicants, grantees, and/or the general public for informational or clarification purposes. https://nifa.usda.gov/ogfm-issued-correspondence RESEARCH MISCONDUCT NIFA requires that all its awardees adhere to the USDA Scientific Integrity Policy and the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct. https://nifa.usda.gov/research-misconduct NIFA'S GENERAL AWARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS Award terms and conditions are determined by statutory, regulatory, and agency requirements, as well as each grant's circumstances. Terms and conditions dictate important items related to your grant, including method of payment, reporting frequency and content, and prior approval requirements. References to the terms and conditions of awards are located on the NIFA 2009 Award Fact Sheet. NIFA's general award terms and conditions (see link below) is applicable to this program, for awards with an award date on December 26, 2014 and thereafter. https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-general-terms-and-conditions-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-october-2016. Fiscal Year 2016 For FY 2016: NIFA will build upon the national infrastructure with a focus on delivery of customized training to very specific target audiences. We solicited 30 Pilot, 10 Community Outreach, and 4 Multistate Education and Training Projects in FY 2016. To date, we have received 25 Pilot Projects, 25 community outreach projects, and 14 Multistate Education Projects. NIFA has built upon the national infrastructure with a focus on the delivery of customized training to a very specific target audience. In FY 2016, we solicited for 30 pilot, 10 community outreach, and 4 multistate education and training projects. Example projects include the following: SEEDS FOR INCREASING TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE IN FOOD SAFETY (PILOT) This pilot project will work over the course of one (1) year to: (1) identify the specific training and education needs within Arizona-based Tribal communities focusing on the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC); (2) develop culturally sensitive food safety training materials; and (3) implement a food safety education and outreach program that meets the very specific needs of GRIC Tribal members and is also transferable to other Tribal entities across the State of Arizona. HAWAII ROOTS FOOD SAFETY OUTREACH PROJECT (PILOT) Kokua Kalihi Valley (KKV) Hawaii Roots Food Safety Outreach Project will work towards the goal of enabling Hawaii's small and beginning producers, processors, and wholesalers to enhance the safety of their food products (including complying with FSMA regulations), while maintaining profitability, sustainability, and equity. Additionally, project activities will help to build the long-term capacity of our local food system to disseminate best practices through robust culturally-tailored outreach strategies. Objectives assess the specific food safety education/training needs, learning preferences, and knowledge sharing networks of Hawaii`s ethnically diverse, small and beginning farmers, processors, and wholesalers. Develop a community-based, FSMA-consistent food safety curriculum and pilot its delivery to 80 individuals through on-farm training sessions facilitating peer networking and knowledge sharing. Disseminate five (5) new food safety education/training materials and delivery methodology to ten (10) local stakeholder organizations and 300 individuals for broader implementation throughout Hawaii. BRIDGING THE GAP: EFFECTIVE RISK MITIGATION THROUGH ADOPTION OF AGRICULTURAL WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS (MULTI-STATE) This project’s goal is to equip growers with the knowledge to successfully implement water treatment systems on their farms. Fruit and vegetable growers are continually evaluating new practices to mitigate food safety risks in their operations. The finalization of the Produce Safety rule has set in motion many activities to help growers become compliant with this regulation. The project team has long-standing relationships with the produce growing community in our roles as extension specialists. They have received numerous questions and have had many discussions with growers who currently use surface water for irrigation or application of foliar sprays (e.g. herbicides and pesticides). They understand that surface water can become contaminated with foodborne pathogens and do not want to rely upon monitoring via water testing or die-off rates to assure the safety of the produce they are growing. While there are in-line water treatments (chlorine, peroxyacetic acid, UV-light) to inactivate pathogens, there isn't a curriculum to educate growers about each technology; determine what would work best in their operation; validate effectiveness; and conduct ongoing verification activities (e.g. record-keeping). This project seeks to: Develop stakeholder-driven curriculum to educate growers of all sizes and background about agricultural water treatment systems; Share the curriculum with growers and train-the-trainers; and lastly evaluate the short-term and medium-term outcomes through knowledge gained and adoption of this technology. This curriculum would help growers of all sizes make educated decisions on how to mitigate risk for their farms within the context of the Produce Safety regulation. Additionally, the team will coordinate hosting a Project Directors meeting for Pilot, Community Outreach and Multi-state projects in year one (1) with the Southern Regional Center. EXPANSION AND INTEGRATION OF FSMA EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR BEGINNING AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC PRODUCERS (COMM) This project goal is to expand bilingual food safety education and outreach while integrating new guidelines established under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for beginning and socially disadvantaged sustainable organic producers. The target audience requires access to customized Bilingual Land Based Experiential Food Safety Education, Training and TA that integrates FSMA guidelines to improve the success of their beginning farm businesses. Access includes services being offered in both English and Spanish by trusted educational partners in multiple formats. For beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, an audience adapted and comprehensive approach to Food Safety Training is appropriate. This training (a proposed 3-week short course) would cover general topics such as Traceability and Worker Health and Hygiene, followed by Farm Reviews, Field Harvest and Packing, Packing Shed Facility, Storage and Transportation. This resource would also be incorporated into the ongoing onsite cohort practicum training and incubator TA, and also two (2) bilingual outreach and educational videos using course material and clips for all topics. This goal will be achieved through four (4) objectives: (1) enhance partnerships of local non-profit Viva Farms, a land-grant university, a State University County Extension and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA); (2) develop, adapt and implement food safety education and outreach integrating FSMA guidelines that can be utilized nationally; (3) increase coordination and access to food safety education and outreach that removes barriers to participation of the target audience; and (4) increase food safety knowledge, skills and practices consistent with FSMA guidelines of target audience. Outreach and Promotion Plan. Partners will coordinate bilingual outreach using social media, network partners, list serves, print and radio marketing to reach the greatest possible percentage of our target audience. Use existing curriculum and resources: We will utilize existing education and training material such as "Bridging the GAP's", "Handbook for Small and Direct Marketing Farms", and "Wholesale Success" to develop and deliver curriculum and make course materials and delivery bilingually accessible. Outcomes: The project is expected produce the following outputs: (1) increased and effective partnerships between non Viva Farms, WSU, WSDA, Regional Centers, NCC, USDA and FDA; (2) expansion, Development and delivery of new two (2) three-week short courses, and curriculum inclusion in ongoing practicum courses and Incubator TA; (3) increase in number of trainers with the knowledge and experience to effectively train our target audience during and after the grant period; (4) increased bilingual materials and resources available in several delivery methods including Spanish Versions of "Bridging the GAP's"; (5) increase the number of target audience producers receiving education and improving knowledge, are committed to, or have implemented Food Safety Practices; and (6) two (2) Outreach and Educational Food Safety Videos. Adaptation and Availability of communities. Other similar farming communities will be able to access, learn from and adapt their approaches as a result of this project. If we are able to achieve our goals and objectives with the close collaboration of our key partners, communities can look to our activities, outputs and outcomes for strategic planning.
Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year (FY) 2017: NIFA has built upon the national infrastructure with a focus on the delivery of customized training to a very specific target audience. In FY 2017, we solicited for 10 pilot, 17 community outreach, and 16 multistate education and training projects. Example projects include the following: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS TO CUSTOMIZE FOOD SAFETY TRAINING FOR VERY SMALL TO SMALL STRAWBERRY PRODUCERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES (MULTI-STATE) The long-term goal of this multi-state project is to reduce the burden of foodborne disease (FBD) attributed to on-farm contamination of fresh berries. An intermediate step to achieving this goal is the development of a novel food safety outreach 'add-on' curriculum. The add-on curriculum aims to facilitate integration of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule among very small and small-sized strawberry growers in the southeastern United States. The three objectives to achieve the program aim are: 1. Conduct surveys and interviews with very small to small-sized strawberry growers in the southeastern United States. 2. Conduct environmental assessments on very small to small-sized strawberry farms in Arkansas. 3. Develop and evaluate the add-on curriculum delivered to very small to small-sized strawberry growers in Arkansas. LOCAL PRODUCE SAFETY INITIATIVE (COMMUNITY OUTREACH) The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association aims to expand to level the playing field for small-scale, limited-resource, and new and beginning farmers seeking access to the high-value market for local foods in Carolina communities; as the local food market shifts increasingly to wholesale distribution channels, these types of producers will have to demonstrate effective farm food safety programs, and our work provides scale-appropriate training and support to do so. Objective 1:Conduct eight 1-day workshops covering Principles of Fresh Produce Safety and Navigating the GAP Audit to 120 workshop participants. Objective 2: Conduct eight 1-day workshops covering Food Safety Program and Plan Development to 120 workshop participants. Objective 3: Provide direct Food Safety Program and Plan Development assistance to 60 small-scale farms seeking GAP certification. FOOD SAFETY BITES: A WEEKLY FOOD SAFETY PODCAST (PILOT) With the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the need to educate farmers as to how to best adopt and adapt good food safety practices on their farms is increasingly imperative. Most food safety education for farmers takes place all at once, with a large amount of information delivered during focused sessions, usually presented during the non-production season. Many, if not most farmers leave feeling overwhelmed; and many do not revisit the information in the timely manner that best facilitates learning. Even with take-home resources, they also leave with the challenge of how to best transmit the information to other individuals managing and working on their farms. To address this need, we will produce and publish a 36-week series of short, 20-minute podcasts covering practical food safety practices and FSMA requirements. Each of the 36 episodes in the podcast series will cover a single, targeted food-safety topic, such as How and when to wash your hands; Why working while sick isn't a good idea; How to mix, store, and test sanitizer solutions; and What are biofilms and how to combat them. By "dripping" the content over the course of the growing season in small, digestible bites, this podcast will facilitate increased engagement with topics that are timely to the work being done on the farm. In addition, by providing information in small doses, farmers will have the opportunity to take action to improve a single area of their farm each week. We anticipate that with this mode of delivery and the content provided, farmers will better have the tools to comply with the FSMA regulation, and begin to view food safety as a routine activity on their farms. FAMILYFARMED: ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY WEBSITE TRANSLATION AND FOOD SAFETY TRAINING EXPANSION (COMMUNITY OUTREACH) FamilyFarmed will expand its existing On-farm Food Safety education and outreach programs to Spanish-speaking farmers and train new presenters (including bilingual instructors) to reach more farmers. This project will enable FamilyFarmed to broaden the scope of our food safety/farmer training to be able to reach a larger number of both English- and Spanish-speaking fruit and vegetable farmers. In addition, this project will enable FamilyFarmed to update, modify and maintain training program materials, including the Food Safety Binder, onfarmfoodsafety.org website, and Wholesale Success Food Safety sections to ensure that they are consistent with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidelines and regulations. Using the free, online tool -- developed in partnership with the USDA, and a wide range of national partners -- farmers are guided through the steps necessary to create a personalized food safety plan. To date, over 1,000 food safety plans have been completed using the tool.
Fiscal Year 2018 Supporting FSMA Compliance for California's Regional Food Hubs Through Training and Technical Assistance: This project will improve understanding and adoption of food safety practices among a niche audience of produce distributors - food hubs - thereby increasing the success of regional supply chains through enhanced FSMA compliance. Food hubs, which manage the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local and regional producers, are important sales channels for many small to medium-scale farmers, offering transportation efficiency and greater access to markets. However, food hub facilities and ownership structures vary widely, complicating determinations of coverage and qualified exemption status under FSMA's Produce Rule and Preventative Controls Rule. Our project will enhance food safety and regulatory compliance for at least 15 California food hubs via an existing CA Food Hub Network. The primary deliverables will be: PCQI certificates issued to 24 staff of California food hubs, technical expert review of food safety plans of 15 hubs, hazard analysis recommendations based on site visits for 10 hubs, and the development of FSMA guidance documents specifically targeting food hubs, to be shared on a national level through communication with Regional FSMA Training Centers and through University outreach and extension efforts. These objectives will be achieved via technical support trainings (delivered remotely and in person), one-on-one consultations, individualized hub food safety plan development and review, and in person site visits. The outcomes of this project will support local food systems in California and increase access to nutritious, safe, fresh produce in communities served by food hubs while improving overall food safety and regulatory compliance. Food Safety Education Program for Veteran Farmers in Indiana: Over 400,000 military veterans, approximately 8.6% of the adult population, live in Indiana. Following their service or deployment, veterans may return home with a wide variety of conditions related to physical and emotional trauma that potentially hinders them from successful re- integration. Farming can offer veterans opportunities to build on skills learned in the military (discipline, the ability to work long hours, sense of service) to provide for themselves and their families while also working in a therapeutic environment that can help them adjust to civilian life. Veteran farmers, like other small acreage farmers, must implement food safety management plans to develop sustainable farming business. There are limited programs that provide effective food safety training to veteran farmers and addressing their unique needs and barriers. This project will utilize qualitative and quantitative research approaches to: 1) identify the barriers and needs of veteran farmers related to food safety regulations and practices in a sustainable farming system; 2) develop a culturally tailored food safety outreach program that addresses the barriers and motivators identified and utilizes different educational interventions to increase knowledge level and practice compliance, impacting day-to-day food safety challenges on farm; and 3) translate the information gained from the project into a replicable audience-focused extension program that empowers more veteran farmers and other socially disadvantaged farmers to incorporate and practice food safety plan on farm. This outreach project partners with local farmer groups, like Farmer Veterans Coalition Chapter of Indiana (FVC-I), and other USDA supporting service, like Agri-Ability, and uses learning circles, positive deviance, and other multi-facet intervention to develop an enhanced food safety education program that is consistent with FSMA guidelines. The ultimate goal is to increase the self-efficacy of the farm business management and compliance of rams among veteran farmers; and improve the economic health and viability of the Indiana veteran communities. Southern Regional Center for Food Safety Training, Outreach and Technical Assistance Continuation, and Lead Regional Coordination Center: The overall goal of this Regional Center proposal is to continue to build a collaborative infrastructure in the Southern US to support Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliant training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance as it relates to the produce industry. The proposed Southern Center includes participation from land-grant institutions in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It will lead, manage and coordinate regional assistance programs targeted at owners and operators of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small food processors, and small fruit and vegetables merchant wholesalers affected by FSMA requirements. In addition to land-grant institutions, established partnerships with stakeholder groups including state and local regulators, community-based and non-governmental organizations will be leveraged to maximize training effectiveness and delivery opportunities. The goal will be accomplished through the following specific objectives: 1. Develop a cadre of PSA and FSPCA certified trainers within the Southern US who are focused on supporting the produce industry. 2. Develop and deliver region and stakeholder specific education, training curricula, and technical assistance programs. 3. Evaluate the impact of Southern Center education, training and technical assistance programs. Programs will focus on helping audiences understand and interpret FSMA regulations and implement systems to meet requirements across the respective environments, agricultural production and processing systems in the Southern US to ensure co-management of food safety, conservation systems and ecological health. In addition, the University will serve as the lead institution for all four Regional Centers (Southern, North East, North Central and Western. It will manage the national priorities as well as facilitate communication and information sharing between the centers.
Fiscal Year 2019 Supporting Underserved CA Leafy-Green Producers’ FSMA Compliance, Through Interdisciplinary Food Safety, Communication and Marketing Training: This collaborative project seeks to train socially disadvantaged farmers in California’s Santa Maria valley in an essential area - FSMA regulation compliance. Given recent prominent food safety outbreaks in romaine lettuce and the importance of the leafy greens' industry to California, PD will work specifically with operators of small and very small leafy greens' farms in the Santa Maria valley. In this space, project will work operators of Hispanic origin, given documented challenges they face in developing regulation compliance due to barriers in language, education, and other resources. Project has three objectives: (a) to provide PSA grower training to approximately 40 farmers, (b) to provide individually-tailored comprehensive food safety planning training to 15 leafy greens' operations via field visits, and (c) to train Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly students in an interdisciplinary approach to food safety, thereby increasing capacities of future food safety experts in the state. This project benefits not only the target population and consumers of leafy greens, but also positively impacts the wider leafy greens industry, as these items function in a nonbranded food product space where the actions of one operator often have spill-over effects to the entire industry. Experiential Learning Opportunities for Limited Resource Growers Through Mobile Farm Innovation Centers in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia: The overarching goal of the project is to meet the critical challenge to farm viability faced by socially disadvantaged, limited resource, minority growers in the region who are trying to balance food safety and conservation concerns. The customized food safety training proposed will build on the body of food safety resources previously developed but will meet the needs of the growers in this region by focusing on experiential learning and face-to-face technological support. With the growers' long-term food safety, conservation, and financial viability in mind, the objectives of the project are to develop three Mobile Farm Innovation Centers equipped with multiple experiential, visual, and technological training aides, develop curriculum to accompany the Innovation Centers, provide outreach to socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and minority growers in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The curriculum to accompany the Innovation Centers includes the development of a comprehensive module on Whole Farm Planning: balancing food safety and conservation concerns, the development of interactive activities, demonstrations, and presentations focusing on food safety, and computer literacy training focused on improving grower access to already existing technology-based food safety materials.
Fiscal Year 2020 Information is not yet available. Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.
Fiscal Year 2024 Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.