MOSCOW, Idaho—The University of Idaho will lead efforts across Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska through a newly funded $1.2 million food safety center to help small and midsized farms and food processors improve food safety.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a national initiative to help farmers and food and animal feed producers comply with requirements established under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The virtual center, based at Oregon State University, is one of four new regional hubs across the country.
"It is critical that we provide relevant training and assistance to farmers, processors and wholesalers, especially to those who may struggle to meet the requirements,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture director.
UI, Oregon State and other universities across the 13-state western region will train others to teach food safety and regulatory compliance. They also will conduct workshops for small and midsized farms, beginning farmers, small-scale food processors, wholesale produce vendors and others.
The center is a partnership among land-grant universities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Guam, as well as American Samoa Community College.
“This center will assist small farms and food processors with technical assistance in complying with the FSMA rules by providing approximately two dozen lead trainers and about 200 other people as certified trainers across the region,” said Barbara Petty, UI Extension interim director.
“These regulations will cause a significant shift in how people will think about and then address food safety across the diverse agricultural communities within our region,” said Barbara Rasco, director of the School of Food Science operated jointly by UI and Washington State University. “This grant will provide food safety educators with the skill they will need to assist firms develop food protection plans that are risk-based and compliant with these new regulations.”
Rasco has led food safety initiatives in the United States and internationally. The center will leverage existing food safety training programs within Extension, the university and community-based organizations throughout the region.
University of Idaho Extension has a strong presence in education and technical assistance in food safety and processing to the agricultural community across the region, providing food safety training at the processor, grower and consumer level, said Jeff Kronenberg, Extension food processing specialist.
Kronenberg leads UI efforts that address specific challenges facing the food processing and distribution industry by helping companies find solutions through improved food safety and quality management, process validation and lean manufacturing program.
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