Farmers Markets I

Thursday morning 9:00 am

Where: Grand Gallery (main level) Room D

Summary: Food Safety on the Farm:
Food buyers increasingly demand assurance that their food is safe through various certification programs for good handling practices or GAP. Panelists include a GAP auditor, a GAP educator, a blueberry farmer who has been USDA GAP certified and a farmer who direct markets produce through farmers markets and CSA and is working to bring her family’s farm into GAP compliance. They will discuss the easy parts, the challenging parts and what both farmers and farmers market managers need to know.

Safe Food Sampling at Farmers Markets:
In May 2009 the Michigan Department of Agriculture released a new document, Guidelines for Providing Safe Food Samples at Farmers Markets. Hygiene, temperature control, food protection, warewashing and facility equipment are all important topics. This panel of speakers will discuss sampling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and processed foods at farmers markets.

CCA Credits: PD(3.0) (0)

Moderator: Susan Smalley, Director, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU