The on-farm GAPs food safety team at the University of Minnesota works with Minnesota’s produce farmers to help them develop and implement on-farm food safety plans and prepare for GAPs audits. We provide education, outreach and technical support to fruit and vegetable growers through GAP workshops and mock audits, research relating to GAPs, especially as they impact small growers and immigrant and minority growers, and communication and collaboration with many agricultural partner organizations and government entities to help promote information-sharing regarding GAPs and farm safety.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions (send to safety(at)umn.edu)
Proposed Rule on Standards for Produce Safety
Since the release of the proposed regulations on January 4, 2013, the FDA has posted several useful resources on their website. Check out the links below for more information.
Factsheets to Subparts of the Proposed Rule
What you need to know: Proposed Rule on Standards for Produce Safety Under the FDA FSMA
Proposed Rule-at-a-Glance and Decision Tree for Exemptions/Exclusions. National GAPs Collaborators Holyer, LaBorde, Nickerson, Bihn, Castro, and Brooks organized crucial information into an easy to read document (pdf) FSMA-Decision-Tree-1.1_Feb_15_2013
How to make a Handwashing Station for less than $20
A very popular link and download. Handwashing Station Instructions (pdf)
Pesticide Education Materials for Hmong Growers
This UMASH-funded pilot project used in-person, hands-on teaching techniques to share vital pesticide safety information with Hmong-American farmers. Education focused on:
- The use of personal protective equipment
- Proper measuring and mixing of agricultural pesticides
- Reading labels and following label directions
- Determining timing and dosage of common farm pesticides
The PPE poster was created with input from the Hmong-American farmers. The farmers prefer a poster-sized visual reminder that can be hung in their packing shed, garage, or other work area. They requested simple English words and phrasing. The model in the poster is one of the project participants. The 11×17″ poster can be downloaded here: Poster.
The UMASH Annual Forum will be April 17, 2013. All are welcome to attend to hear about the work of the UMASH Center and engage in discussions to promote the health and safety of agricultural workers and their families.
