UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new Penn State Extension online course can help farmers market vendors advance their knowledge of food safety practices and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
The “Farmers Market Food Safety” course teaches new and established farmers market vendors the basics of food safety and sanitation. Food safety begins at product harvest and continues through processing, preparation, transportation, and point of sale.
The goal of the training is to provide insight into the regulations that apply to farmers’ market vendors — depending on what type of product they sell — and some simple strategies to meet those regulations.
The curriculum was developed based on the findings of an innovative five-year study conducted by Penn State food scientists, the results of which show that improvements can be made regarding food safety at farmers’ markets.
Participants will learn about controlling food safety risks from “farm-to-fork” on topics such as equipping food-safe facilities, sourcing and purchasing ingredients, product handling and preparation, sales and service at the farmers market, and record-keeping, traceability, and liability. Printable handouts to help control risk and an event checklist also are provided.
To register, visit extension.psu.edu/farmers-market-food-safety-online
EDITORS: For more information, contact Martin Bucknavage at 814-867-1839 or mwb124@psu.edu.
About Penn State Extension: Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization, dedicated to translating scientific research into real-world applications to drive progress. It 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