Purpose: Objectives were to conduct trainings for small-scale farmers and market managers, evaluate increases in knowledge of factors affecting produce safety, identify practices to be changed, conduct follow-up evaluations to determine actual changes and conduct surveys with Extension Educators to verify outcomes.
Methods: Trainings using the Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce curriculum were conducted. Workshop evaluations measured knowledge gained and identified practices that would be changed as a result of training. Participants were emailed or mailed follow-up surveys nine to 12 months after trainings to determine actual changes. Extension Educators conducting sessions were surveyed to verify outcomes and actual changes.
Results: Data from 328 farmers and 114 market managers indicated significant improvement in knowledge of all covered topics related to enhancing produce safety (P < 0.0001). Specific practices were identified for change by up to 64% of farmers and up to 73% of market managers at the end of sessions. However, low response rates to follow-up surveys made meaningful analysis of actual changes impossible. This is indicative of challenges faced by food safety educators attempting to evaluate effectiveness of education programs when observations or audits are not options. Limitations include participants not providing contact information, information not being legible, email addresses changing before the follow-up timeframe, etc. Extension Educator surveys, however, indicated receiving requests for additional information from participants and, in some cases, observing changes in practices among those trained.
Significance: The curriculum increased knowledge and helped participants identify practices to change to enhance produce safety. Outcomes of evaluation indicate challenges of measuring success of food safety education programs and verifying changes in practices as a result of education.