Project Grant 20237002040563

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEMATIC COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION OF TRIPLE-WASH PROCESS AMONG VERY SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS IN WEST VIRGINIA. SINCE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SALMONELLA AND LISTERIA SPP. WERE DETECTED ON FRESH PRODUCE SOLD AT WV FARMERS MARKETS THAN THE EXISTING PUBLISHED DATA FROM OTHER STATES, WV SMALL FARM CENTER ENCOURAGES VERY SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS TO APPLY THE TRIPLE-WASH WITH ANTIMICROBIALS TO PRODUCE SURFACES IF THEIR PRODUCE IS EATEN RAW OR GROWN CLOSE TO THE GROUND. A SERIAL VALIDATION STUDIES COMPLETED BY THE PD'S RESEARCH TEAM SUGGEST THAT APPLYING TRIPLE-WASH WITH COMMERCIAL ANTIMICROBIALS IS AN EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMIC-FEASIBLE APPROACH FOR VERY SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS TO REDUCE FOODBORNE PATHOGENS ON LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE INCLUDING BUTTERNUT SQUASHES, CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES, AND SPINACHES. THEREFORE, THE OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) CONDUCT A SURVEY OF WV VERY SMALL, LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS' CURRENT PRE- AND POST-HARVEST PRACTICES RELATED TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION ON FRESH PRODUCE AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF FSMA PRODUCE SAFETY RULES; 2) CONDUCT IN-PERSON PLANT ONSITE WORKSHOP OR REMOTE TRAINING COURSE OF TRIPLE-WASH FOR VERY SMALL, LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR FSMA TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOP; 3) DEVELOP A HANDBOOK OF TRIPLE-WASH FOR WV VERY SMALL, LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS. RESULTS WILL EXPAND THE CURRENT FSMA TRAININGS TO WV VERY SMALL LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS, IMPROVE THEIR FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE, AND ENCOURAGE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-FARM POST-HARVEST BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE MICROBIAL SAFETY RISKS OF THEIR PRODUCE.