Notes specifically on "Stories from farmer groups" part of the day long short course titled "food safety & liability insurance"

1. Stories from Farmer Groups
Notes by:
Mercedes Taylor-Puckett
Local Foods and Farmers Market Project Coordinator
Kansas Rural Center
and Kristen Markley
National Farm to Institution Program Manager
Community Food Security Coalition
Jennifer Hashley, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (MA)
Program includes: 6 wk farm business planning course, field based training, incubator farms,
farmland matching program, marketing training/cooperative (Community Food Project)
farmers market, wholesaling, CSA-has become primary outlet.
Now adding CSA-like elements to program. Tufts University site of CSA drop off, an
exclusive farmers market and then University-dining services buys what’s left. Also senior
bundles, Lowell General Hospital Farmers Market, excess bought by cafeteria chef.
Jennifer showed slides with examples of food safety concerns on farms, funny titles that
went with photos:
Cooperative:
Nightmare on Arugula Street
Oops in the field:
Wild Turkey Tangle-poking through row cover
Bed Bath and Beyond: moist coverings/newspapers
David Runsten, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Started working on our own GAPs
- created ‘small farm’ GAPs
Every farmer is going to need a basic food safety plan
LGMA (Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement):
Food safety conflicts with conservation are counter productive for safe production
Internships/Apprenticeship need Workmens comp
roguefarmcorps.org
NCAT
community colleges/farmer apprenticeship program based on trades CRAFT groups
New England Small Farm Institute: farm mentoring publication/guide
Liability Insurance (Andrew Smiley: Sustainable Food Center) from State Farmers Market
Association offers liability insurance that extends to wholesale sales