Food Safety

Fresh Produce & Specialty Crop Growers

CIFT has proudly worked with Mid-American Agricultural and Horticultural Services, Inc. (MAAHS) to provide education and consultation services for the Fresh Produce Industry in Ohio for the past six years. Via the USDA's Risk Management Agency we have once again been funded through September 2008 to provide these services for Ohio, Indiana and now, Kentucky through our Ohio and Indiana Risk Management Initiative and the Kentucky Risk Management Initiative Programs.

Education

CIFT provides education services via Shari Plimpton, Ph.D., Lead Food Safety Educator for the program and other qualified CIFT personnel. These programs include 1-hour seminars, half-day and whole day workshops for growers and leaders in growing operations. Depending on the audience and its needs the topics covered can include:

• Food Safety Issues for Fresh Produce
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)
• Good Handling Practices (GHPs)
• Food Safety Programs
• Third Party Audits
• Recall and Traceability Responsibilities
• Related Regulatory Issues
• GMP and HACCP

We also offer specialized programs to reach specific audiences such as:

• Crop Specific (i.e. Berry, Melon, Leaf Lettuce, etc.)
• Growing Media (i.e. Muck Crop)
• Production Type (i.e. Organic, Greenhouse)
• Community/Geographic (i.e. Amish, Southeastern Ohio)

These programs may be available through the Risk Management Initiatives mentioned above. For more information please contact us at foodsafety@eisc.org or call 614-314-4627.

Consultation

CIFT also provides consultation services for Fresh Produce and Specialty Crop Growers. With over six years of experience in Ohio and Indiana we have worked with a wide variety of fresh produce growers to help them understand their food safety and security issues. We look for opportunities to reduce grower risk and help each grower develop a food safety system that works for their unique operation. Our consultations can include the review of:

• Pre-Harvest Practices
• Harvest Activities
• Packing House Operations and Practices
• Storage Facilities and Practices
• Traceback/Recall Procedures
• Food Safety and Security Systems and Programs
• Mock Audits for Third Party Audit Preparation

These programs may be available through the risk management initiatives mentioned above. For more information please contact us at foodsafety@eisc.org or call 614-314-4627.

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Food Safety Outreach Links...

• Fresh Produce & Specialty Crop Growers

• Food Manufacturers & Marketers

• Small Business Food Manufacturers, Entrepreneurs & NOCK Customers

• Food Wholesalers & Distributors

• Restaurants & Food Service

• Food Retailers

• Greenhouse Specialty Crop Growers

• Farm & Farmers Markets

Fresh Produce Food Safety and Security Links...

• Good Agricultural Practices Articles

• MAAHS Risk Management Initiatives

• GAPs Network

• Fresh Produce Food Safety Information UCDavis

• FDA Guide to Minimize Microbial Food safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

• USDA AMS Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program

• UMaryland/FDA GAPs Education Website

• Penn State Food Safety Database