Project Grant 20227002037567

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SULLIVAN COUNTY (CCESC) AND OUR PARTNERS WILL EXPAND EXISTING FOOD SAFETY EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH EFFORTS PRIMARILY IN SULLIVAN AND DELAWARE COUNTIES NY AND WAYNE COUNTY, PA, BY WORKING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS TO INCREASE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS EXEMPT FROM THE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE, INCREASE FOOD SAFETY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE REGION FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED FARMS, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO PRODUCERS COVERED BY THE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE, AND PROVIDE TRAINING AND CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS SEEKING A THIRD-PARTY GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE (GAP) AUDIT, THROUGH BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF CCESC, WITH A FOCUS ON SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS. THE LONG-TERM GOALS ARE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCERS WITH FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOOD SAFETY TRAININGS AND WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS WITH FOOD SAFETY PLANS AND GAP AUDITS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS PARTICIPATING IN THE NYS GROWN AND CERTIFIED AND THE FARM TO FOOD BANK PROGRAMS, AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS SELLING TO THE CATSKILLS FOOD HUB AND THE SULLIVAN FRESH PROGRAMS. THE END RESULT WILL BE AN INCREASE IN RETAIL AND WHOLESALE MARKETS FOR PRODUCERS, WHILE PROVIDING A SAFE, NUTRITIOUS AND SECURE FOOD SUPPLY FOR CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE FARM, FRESH PRODUCTS, THUS GROWING THE AGRICULTURE ECONOMY IN THE REGION, PREVENTING FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL EXPAND ON A PREVIOUSLY FUNDED FOOD SAFETY OUTREACH PROGRAM BY INCREASING OUR SERVICE AREA TO INCLUDE WAYNE COUNTY, PA, CONNECTING PRODUCERS TO OUR FARM TO FOOD BANK PROGRAM AND WORKING WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF NEW FARMERS IN THE REGION, OF WHICH SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS WILL BE TARGETED.