COLUMBIA, Mo. — Farmers can see produce safety best practices in action at an Oct. 11 field day at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Missouri.
The field day is presented by Missouri Farmers Union with University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension.
The event is aimed at farmers seeking to implement good produce safety practices as they grow their business, said Londa Nwadike, food safety specialist with MU Extension and Kansas State Research and Extension.
“This is a chance for people to see a great produce-growing operation firsthand,” she said. “Educators will be on-site to walk through effective and efficient risk management.”
Topics include rinsing, packing and storing produce; water sources and distribution; wildlife management and pre-harvest inspection; and worker health and hygiene.
Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm, will talk about why produce safety is a priority and how it contributes to the farm’s success. The Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service named Graznak its 2021 Organic Farmer of the Year.
A produce safety inspector from the Missouri Department of Agriculture will also be at the event to answer questions.
Attendees can choose between two sessions: 9 a.m.-noon or 1:30-4:30 p.m. Registration is $10, but scholarships are available.
Happy Hollow Farm, in Moniteau County, is about 25 miles northwest of Jefferson City.
Details and registration:
- Morning session – bit.ly/3l8LcQu
- Afternoon session – bit.ly/3AaKDd1
For a list of other upcoming produce safety events, visit ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/
MU Extension continues to provide Missouri produce growers free microbial water testing through local health departments. Visit bit.ly/3j13l1z for details. There is also cost-share funding for growers interested in USDA Good Agricultural Practices certification. For more information, contact Nwadike at 816-482-5850 or NwadikeL@missouri.edu.
— Curt Wohleber, University of Missouri Extension
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