Food Safety on the Farm: GAPs workshop, Oregon, IL

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) workshop is being offered by University of Illinois Extension. Food safety begins with sound practices on the farm, especially with fresh vegetable and fruit produce that is eaten raw. Recent outbreaks of food borne illnesses involving both fresh and processed food products have heightened public concern about food safety. Increasingly more consumers want to know how their food is grown. Most fresh produce retailers now require the producers who supply them to have 3rd party audits to verify safe food production and handling practices on the farm. The recently signed bill on food safety overhaul underscores the growing emphasis on food safety and the need for fresh produce farmers to produce a safe product.

This workshop has benefits for all producers, retailers and wholesalers in supermarkets, Farmers Markets, or for business owners in service industries. In particular, the GAPs workshop will equip producers with the knowledge to put together a written food safety plan. By becoming food safety compliant, producers will stay competitive in the specialty produce business.

GAPs participants will be eligible for a $450 cost-share for a GAPs Audit.

Cost per participant, is $30 and $25 for an additional farm/family member (sharing the curriculum). Pre-registration is required so that materials can be sent prior to webinar. Call the Oregon Extension office at 815.732.2191, or online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo/. With this online registration opportunity, you may use a credit card and immediately pay and confirm your registration.

For more information, please call our office at 815.732.2191.