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Registration Open For Good Agricultural Practices Workshops

By Angela Laury Shaw
 
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will conduct Level 1, Level 2, and Iowa MarketReady workshops covering Good Agricultural Practices for fruit and vegetable producers beginning in November. The one-day workshops are important for farmers who sell directly to consumers or are considering expansion to foodservice or retail marketers.
 
“We are offering these workshops across the state to help producers maintain safe food products,” said Angela Shaw, professor in food safety and program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Because of consumer awareness about food safety, these workshops are essential to put local food produce buyers at ease.”
 
“In addition to the GAP workshops, we also encourage producers to consider attending the MarketReady workshop,” Shaw said. “This workshop provides additional information for producers to consider when selling to larger markets such as restaurants or grocery stores.”
 
Three workshops being offered this fall are:
  • Level 1 – KNOW: For growers who provide food to consumers through community-supported agriculture or farmers markets, or are considering retail foodservice sales. Instructions cover good agriculture best practices and market considerations.
  • Level 2 – SHOW: Farmers considering sales to wholesale foodservices such as grocers, restaurants, hospitals and other institutions, and those interested in adding value to fresh produce and selling products in a convenience form will have the tools to demonstrate GAPs are in place after attending the workshop. Farmers are guided in the development of a written farm food safety plan and then can offer food safety assurances to buyers.
  • Iowa MarketReady: For local food producers interested in scaling up from retail to wholesale markets, including commercial fruit, vegetable, dairy, meat and egg producers. Adapted from the University of Kentucky’s program, Iowa MarketReady addresses the market development risks and relationships farmers and ranchers must manage as they scale up to market their product to restaurants, grocery stores, food service buyers and schools.
 
The GAP workshops, led by ISU Extension and Outreach faculty and specialists including: Angela Shaw, food safety; Catherine Strohbehn, food safety and local foods systems; and Linda Naeve, value added agriculture, will include presentations, hands-on activities and small group discussion.
 
The Iowa MarketReady instructional team is led by Linda Naeve, and includes Christa Hartsook, Ray Hansen and Marsha Laux, who all serve as value added agriculture program specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach.
 
The day-long workshops begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the program is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
2015 fall workshop schedule
 
West Des Moines workshops – Valley Community Center, 4343 Fuller Road
•    Iowa MarketReady – Nov. 5, 2015 (register by midnight, Oct. 26)
•    Level 1 – Nov. 11, 2015 (register by midnight, Nov. 1)
•    Level 2 – Nov. 18, 2015 (register by midnight, Nov. 7)
 
Calmar workshop – Northeast Iowa Community College–Dairy Center, Room 115, 1527 Highway IA-150 South
•    MarketReady – Nov. 9, 2015 (register by midnight, Oct. 30)
 
Waterloo workshops – Hawkeye Community College, 1501 E. Orange Road
•    Iowa MarketReady – Nov. 23, 2015 (register by midnight, Nov. 13)
•    Level 1 – Nov. 30, 2015 (register by midnight, Nov. 20)
•    Level 2 – Dec. 7, 2015 (register by midnight, Nov. 27)
 
The fee is $55 per workshop with discounts for attending both workshops or having multiple attendees from the same farm. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion following the program. Register online; payment is due 10 days prior to the session. There is a minimum attendance limit of 12 people for the individual class to be held.
 

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