Diffley to host food safety workshops at MOFGA

UNITY — Author and educator Atina Diffley of Chicago-based Family Farmed will offer three hands-on workshops on produce safety at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Common Ground Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Road.

Diffley is an organic farmer, author of the critically acclaimed book “Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works,” and an expert in food safety, marketing and quality of life on the farm. She is renowned for her hands-on training style and capacity to break daunting issues into manageable pieces and has been a keynote speaker at MOFGA’s Farmer to Farmer Conference.
Her trainings make the USDA Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule accessible and actionable for diversified family farmers by exploring risk assessment and record keeping, postharvest handling, and wash and pack shed design. Farmers who attend the food safety workshop could then attend the February grower training with a strong background and practical understanding of the topic, followed by opportunities in March to apply their understanding at the postharvest handling and the wash and pack shed design workshops.
Food Safety Workshop — Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farmers will assess risks to identify potential hazards; discuss all areas of food safety on the farm and ways to implement cost-effective strategies related to food safety; and discuss record-keeping systems that support decision making and maximize profitability while also meeting food safety requirements. Participants receive a food safety plan template and a copy of their choice of the books “Wholesale Success” or “Direct Market Success.” This workshop may satisfy staff training requirements as described in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, but since no equivalency evaluation process exists yet, it does not currently satisfy supervisor training described in the rule. Space is limited. This training is funded by USDA Risk Management Education. For more information and to register, visit www.mofga.org/MOFGA-Events/food-safety-workshop
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training — Feb. 8 (snow date Feb. 15), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Maine residents can learn, share experiences and ask questions about produce safety best practices and key parts of the produce safety rule requirements. Offered in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and AgMatters LLC, this training currently is the only option that satisfies the supervisor training requirement of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Register by Feb. 1 at extension.umaine.edu/register/product/produce-safety-alliance-grower-training-unity-2-8-19/.
Postharvest Handling — March 4, and Pack Shed Design, March 5, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Day 1 focuses on postharvest handling; the cold chain and efficiency of systems; and quality and safety throughout harvest, cleaning, cooling, packing, storing and transport. Day 2 attendees will use their postharvest handout from the previous day to design a packing house. Participants receive a copy of “Direct Market Success” or “Wholesale Market Success.” This training will place farmers in an excellent position to implement efficient postharvest practices and a food safety plan for their farm. Attend either or both workshops, but registration priority will be given to those attending both. Registration fees includes lunch, and participants may attend one or both days. For more information, visit www.mofga.org/MOFGA-Events/post-harvest-handling-and-packing-shed-design.
The training was made possible by USDA Risk Management Education funds.