On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the West Virginia University Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Service is hosting a virtual alliance grower training for the state’s fresh fruit and vegetable producers.
According to Dr. Dee Singh-Knights, WVU Extension Specialist, the training is a produce safety course and will appeal to producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, who sell either directly to consumers and farmers markets or to farm retailers and third-party buyers.
“What they will learn is how to keep their foods safe from any microorganisms that can make people sick,” said Dr. Singh-Knights. “We will be addressing food illnesses and outbreaks, which is something that sickens one in six Americans every year. We are doing our part to prevent that from happening and to keep produce safe.”
In the course, producers will also focus on the minimums of food safety standards for growing fruits and vegetables, the possible routes of contamination, how to prioritize preventative measures on their farms, and how to tackle the national issue of poor documentation among producers.
Dr. Singh-Knights emphasized the importance of documenting every aspect of growing and selling produce, stating that it is the only way to prove what you are saying is true. She also shared that each producer will receive a record-keeping template after the training so that they can immediately start documenting on their own farms.
Although the class is virtually on Zoom, only 15 individuals are able to register to attend. The deadline to register for the training is Feb. 18.
The class is $60 and includes a course manual and completion certificate.
“We really want to encourage our producers to make sure they access the class when it’s available. Don’t wait until last minute; jump on the opportunity when you can.”
Participants in the course must have functioning video cameras, speakers, microphones and headsets, which will be used during the course. Participants must also have access to a computer and Wi-Fi with enough speed and consistency to fully engage with the instructors and other participants.
Those interested can register for the training here:
“The WVU Extension Service is putting this on as a way to make sure that we are proactive in meeting the needs of our producers but our buyers as well,” Dr. Singh-Knights stated. “We try to meet producers where they are. Some are doing a really good job of mitigating food safety on farms, and some not so much. We want to make sure everyone has the information they need.
“I think this training is really important. As a producer, it’s easy to say, ‘I know what I’m doing. I’ve done this for so long, and I haven’t killed anyone yet.’ There are certain things on your farm that you might overlook… We want to help producers open their eyes and see what the possible risks are so they can have a complete picture and prioritize what is on their farm and what is affecting them.”
The WVU Extension Service will host two more trainings in the spring for anyone who wasn’t able to participate in the first training on Feb. 23. Dr. Singh-Knights said dates have not yet been set for the second and third training.
Any questions can be directed to Dr. Singh-Knights at 304-293-7606 or by email.