Southern Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Center to Enhance Produce Safety

Objective 1. Develop a cadre of PSA and FSPCA certified trainers within the Southern US who are focused on supporting the produce industry. Kentucky expects to have two lead trainers working with 3.4 trainers representing the UK Food Systems Innovation Center (FSIC), Horticulture and/or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Objective 2. Develop and deliver region and stakeholder specific education, training curricula, and technical assistance programs. The University of Kentucky FSIC currently has several training curriculums specifically developed for the target populations identified in the RFA, which we would like to include the Add.on Trainings. Recent efforts have focused on the dramatic growth in the local foods markets in the state including. a. Direct marketing to restaurants and schools, b. Produce auctions, c. Commercial Kitchens. Kentucky has training programming in partnership with the Kentucky Division of Conservation in Wildlife /co.management which be included in the add-on Trainings. The FSIC has current Add.on programming in: a. Building a food safety plan, b. Food safety for farmers markets and road side stands, c. PSA for farmers market vendors, d. Sanitation PC, e. Environmental Monitoring (multi part) PC, f. Recall Plan PC. The FSIC would also like to assist in the development of in-service training for agents. At the University of Kentucky we are lucky enough to have a robust Extension program including Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4.H Youth, and Family & Consumer Science representation in all 120 counties. This system is a powerful source of trainers that should have the opportunity for training in this critical food safety material. Objective 3. Evaluate the impacts of education, training and technical assistance programs. The FSIC would be very interested in assisting in determining the impacts of select