Fast Facts:
Trainings to cover soil amendments, worker hygiene, postharvest handling and more
In-person and virtual trainings scheduled for February, April, May and September
Hosted by Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Produce Safety Team
LITTLE ROCK — For commercial growers, it’s critical to keep farms free of microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illness. To support Arkansas growers, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer four in-person and virtual produce safety trainings in 2024.
The trainings will provide important information on worker health and hygiene, soil amendments, developing a farm food safety plan and more. Rip Weaver, extension program technician for food systems and food safety for the Division of Agriculture, said the Arkansas Produce Safety Team hopes to reach many growers throughout the state with these trainings.
“The Arkansas Produce Safety Team once again looks forward to offering a number of training opportunities for Arkansas produce growers on the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule in 2024,” Weaver said. “We aim to reach as many growers as possible by holding in-person and remote trainings throughout the year.”
Weaver said one of the in-person trainings will be in Monticello to serve the Eastern and Southeast Arkansas produce industry.
“This year, we will revisit Southeast Arkansas to conduct an in-person training at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus in late April,” Weaver said. “Our next in-person training will be at extension’s Little Rock State Office in September. Two remote trainings in February and May will allow those unable to travel to still participate in these trainings.”