STATE COLLEGE, Penn. — With the continued popularity of eating healthy, access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other freshly made products is more popular than ever. Farmers markets are attracting more customers — and vendors. Ensuring food safety at farmers markets is an important responsibility of the vendors in preventing foodborne illness.
Penn State Extension is now offering an online course aimed at helping farmers market vendors learn about controlling food safety risks from farm to fork.
Through a combination of videos and reading, the Farmers Market Food Safety online course focuses on teaching new and established farmers market vendors the basics of food safety and sanitation. Vendors will learn how to evaluate potential risks related to food safety at farmers markets from harvest through the sale of food products.
Other topics include equipping food-safe facilities, source and purchasing ingredients, product handling and preparation, sales and service at the market, record keeping, traceability, and liability. A useful event checklist is also provided to help you, as a vendor, prepare for and set up your farmers market stand.
The online course will take approximately 4 hours and offers a certificate of completion. To learn more and to register, visit extension.psu.edu/farmers-market-food-safety-online or call 877-345-0691.
About Penn State Extension
Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization, dedicated to translating scientific research into real-world applications to drive progress. In support of Penn State’s land-grant mission, extension programs promote a vibrant food and fiber system, a clean environment and a healthier population for Pennsylvania and beyond.
Penn State Extension serves individuals, businesses, and communities, helping them address problems and realize opportunities through a robust portfolio of educational programs, products, and services. With support from federal, state and county governments, the organization has a tradition of bringing unbiased information and support to the citizens of Pennsylvania for more than 100 years.
— Penn State Extension
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