Understanding Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Workshops

Lincoln University Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a GAPS Training Workshop.  This workshop will consist of two separate trainings.  The first training with take place on Tuesday, Nov 5th  in Joplin or Nov 7th in St. Louis – Understanding Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

The second part of the training will focus on Writing a Farm Food Safety Plan and will be held in three separate locations and three different dates: Wednesday, Nov 6th in Webb City; Friday, Nov 8th in St. Louis; Friday, Dec 6th in Springfield and Friday, Dec 13th in Webb City.

Food safety training is quickly becoming a serious issue for farmers across the United States.

GAP's (Good Agricultural Practices) is a comprehensive food safety approach that can be applied to any farm. With a food safety plan in place, both the consumer and farmer are at less of a risk for a food borne illness outbreak.
This workshop, led by national experts on Farm Food Safety, is for small and medium‐sized farms.

Day 1 is limited to no more than 100 participants and each of the Day 2 workshops are limited to no more than 25 farms so early registration is recommended.

Understanding Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Workshop

Tuesday, November 5

9 am to 4:15 pm

Continental Banquet Center, 2802 North Rangeline, Joplin, MO

or

Thursday, November 7
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension St Louis Urban Impact Center, 9041 Riverview Dr. St Louis.

Led by Dr. Elizabeth Bihn, Cornell University, director of the Produce Safety Alliance and program coordinator for the National Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Program & Gretchen Wall, Cornell University, program coordinator for the Produce Safety Alliance

Understanding Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Agenda

8:30 am – Registration, coffee & tea

9 – Welcome & Introductions

9:15 – Food Safety Begins on the Farm – A review of Produce Safety Issues & Market Applications

9:45 – The USDA GAP/GHP Audit – An Overview

10:30 – Regulatory Updates – FSMA & the Proposed Produce Safety Rule

11 – FAPs – Worker Training & Record Keeping Overview

11:45 – GAPs – Manure, Compost Management, & Wildlife Management

12:15 – Lunch

1:15 – GAPs – Production Water Management

1:40 – GAPs – Postharvest Water Use & Packinghouse Sanitation

2:20 – GAPs – Traceability & Transportation

2:40 – Crisis Management: Things you should think about before a crisis happens!

3:15 – Developing a Farm Food Safety Plan – Resources & Getting Started

3:35 – What to Expect on Day 2

4 – Evaluations

4:15 – Adjourn

How to Write a Food Safety Plan Workshop

Pick one date (offered 9 am to 3:15 pm):

Wednesday, Nov 6th at the Webb City Public Library, 101 South Liberty, Webb City.  Led by Dr. Bihn & Ms Wall.

Friday, Nov 7th at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension St Louis Urban Impact Center, 9041 Riverview Dr. St Louis.  Led by Dr. Bihn & Ms. Wall.

Friday, Dec 6th at the Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield.  Led by University of Missouri & Lincoln University Extension Specialists

Friday, December 13th at the Webb City Public Library, 101 South Liberty, Webb City. Led by University of Missouri & Lincoln University Extension Specialists

How to Write a Food Safety Plan Agenda*

8:30 am – Registration, coffee tea

9 – Introductions

9:10 – Recap of GAPs & Key Elements of Writing a Farm Food Safety Plan
9:30 – Review of jump drive materials & begin writing your farm food safety plan

10 – Independent writing by growers

11 – Discussion: How is it going?

12 – Lunch

12:45 – Reach a stopping point on plan

3 – Wrap up and Course Evaluation

3:15 Adjourn

*You will need the following items on day 2 of the workshop:

1.  Laptop (unless you have reserved a loaner with your registration form)

2.  A list of crops you want to be USDA GAP/GHP certified in (if planning to participate in an audit)

3.  Farm maps with fields outlines that contain crops to be certified

4.  If you have a packinghouse, bring a packinghouse floor plan that shows product flow from the time it enters the packinghouse until it leaves. All diagrams/maps can be hand drawn & simple.

5.  A list of services you have contracted. This may include pest control, portable toilet rental/servicing, trucking/transportation, etc. & any record keeping documents they supply.

Each farm will receive a set of materials. There is no charge for these workshops, but seating is limited. Please register as soon as possible.

For more information, contact: Nahshon Bishop at (417) 846‐3948 for the Webb City workshops and Miranda Duschack at (314) 604-3403 for the St. Louis workshops.