Project Grant 20237002040688

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a $305,630 Project Grant to the University of Vermont & State Agricultural College under the Food Safety Outreach Program (CFDA 10.328). This 3-year grant builds on a successful, multi-state produce safety education and outreach program to help small and mid-size farms in the Northeast adopt practices consistent with the Food Safety Modernization Act.

The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include: developing 12 new educational materials, delivering 24 in-person and online trainings to 600 farmers, providing technical assistance to 150 farms, and supporting 45 farms to become accredited under the Community Accreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS) program. The anticipated outcomes include 60 farms writing produce safety plans and 300 farmers reporting gained knowledge on produce safety and employee management practices.