Evaluation of a Multi-day Good Agricultural Practices Training and Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop

Introduction: In December of 2009, personnel from the National Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets began multi-day GAPs trainings for produce growers to help them understand GAPs and develop a written farm food safety plan. Implementing GAP practices reduces produce safety risks and a plan is required if the farm needs a third-party audit to meet buyer demands.

Purpose: Trainings have been attended by 689 individuals representing over 350 farms and fruit and vegetable processors. Given the time, effort, and expense of both attending and conducting the trainings, there was a desire to assess training impact and value. 

Methods: Short-term evaluations were collected at the end of each training day. In the spring of 2014, 80 past participants, each representing a different farm, were asked to complete a 20-question survey to assess the progress they had made on their plans and audits, costs they had incurred, and impact on their market access.

Results: Evaluations indicated that 13% (39/289) of participants had a written farm food safety plan before coming to the training and by the end of the second day, 48% (230/478) of participants report having 50 - 100% of their farm food safety plans written. Of those responding to the long-term survey, 63% (50/80) reported having finished a written farm food safety plan and 38% (30/80) have completed a third-party audit. Forty-three percent (35/80) of growers reported maintaining sales valued from $14,000 to $2,000,000, while 16% (14/80) of growers reported expanded sales valued at $15,000 to $300,000.

Significance: The multi-day GAPs trainings are helping growers develop written farm food safety plans, implement practices to reduce microbial risks, successfully pass audits, and maintain market contracts as well as expand market access.