WELCOME TO THE CFN FOOD SYSTEM WEBINAR SERIES! Check out the CFN Webinar Archive: www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
MISSION To catalyze connections and collaborations that build a sustainable, resilient, inclusive and equitable regional food system in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Chesapeake Bay map created by Kmusser.
Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group, a partnership between the CFN & Health Care Without Harm Join the Google Group by emailing: chesapeake-farm-to-institution+subscribe@googlegroups.com Send an email to the Work Group: chesapeake-farm-to-institution@googlegroups.com @chesfoodshed @HCWithoutHarm www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
TODAY’S WEBINAR Part I: Food Safety for Fruit & Veg Growers & Processors, Buyers, & Local Food & Ag Professionals & Advocates Resource Experts Amber Vallotton , VA Cooperative Extension; Fresh Produce Food Safety Team Coordinator & Extension Specialist Lindsay Gilmour , Organic Plant LLC; Food Safety Consultant, CFN Co-Chair Rohan Tikekar, Ph.D. , College of Ag & Natural Resources, Dept. of Nutrition & Food Science, UMD; Asst. Professor Respondent Becky Howe , Weaver’s Orchard, Morgantown, PA; Food Safety Director Q&A Moderated by Kristen Markley , Health Care Without Harm, Co-Chair of the Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group @chesfoodshed @HCWithoutHarm @MWCOG www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
Understanding Fresh Produce Purchasing Considerations to Increase Access by Local Producers to Virginia’s Market Sectors Amber Vallotton Extension Specialist Department of Horticulture Virginia Tech avallott@vt.edu
VIRGINIA’S FRESH PRODUCE FOOD SAFETY TEAM VCE extension specialists and field agents team working together to tackle a wide array of produce safety educational needs for various stakeholders in the Commonwealth!
Tie-In to Other VCE Food Safety Programming from Farm to Fork
SETTING THE STAGE FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION ◼ In Virginia and broader Mid-Atlantic region, growing demand and support for local food ◼ Given varying specific food safety expectations, policies, and requirements, significant barriers for producers trying to tap into new markets ◼ This trend particularly true for institutional buyers, who are often constrained by far-reaching institutional and/or corporate policies
HOW DO PRODUCERS NAVIGATE BUYER FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WHEN A “ONE SIZE FITS ALL” STANDARD DOESN’T EXIST ???
VIRGINIA MARKET ASSESSMENT ◼ In 2015-2016, Virginia Fresh Produce Food Safety Team conducted a state-wide market assessment ◼ To better understand current expectations and perceptions across multiple market sectors in Virginia ➢ Direct markets ➢ Colleges/Universities ➢ Hospitals ➢ Public Schools (K-12) ➢ Restaurants ➢ Retailers ➢ Wholesalers
VIRGINIA MARKET ASSESSMENT ◼ On-line Survey Questions focused on principal buyers of various markets: ➢ Purchasing roles ➢ Produce sources used ➢ Frequency of purchasing during peak and off season ➢ Annual fresh produce expenditures ➢ Virginia-grown produce sourced ➢ Purchasing Priorities & Barriers ➢ Food Safety Requirements ➢ Recommendations
VIRGINIA MARKET ASSESSMENT ◼ Online survey coupled with subsequent Focus Groups (FG) ◼ Response rate lower than anticipated within some sectors like hospitals and colleges & universities ◼ Supplemented survey and FG data with literature review and recorded interviews to corroborate
VIRGINIA MARKET ASSESSMENT ◼ Survey data used to ➢ Offer recommendations for both producers and buyers to bring better alignment between on-farm food safety practices and requirements within different marketplaces ➢ Provide stronger foundation for on-going training and outreach efforts ➢ Create cross sector comparison and sector factsheets, infographics, project report, and content for FPFST website and social media
KEY LESSONS LEARNED ◼ Although survey specifically targeted Product characteristic ranked from most to food safety perceptions & expectations, least important across all sectors other constraints related to purchasing ▪ Quality were consistently mentioned ▪ Availability ▪ Price ◼ Food safety certifications and liability ▪ Delivery Consistency ranked higher in public schools, colleges ▪ Product Variety & universities, and hospitals ▪ Quantity ◼ Hospitals exemplified most complex ▪ Food Safety Certification system with extensive hierarchy of ▪ Grower Proximity to Buyer (market) management, personnel, and policy ▪ Product Liability Insurance hurdles
KEY LESSONS LEARNED ◼ Across sectors and sometimes within sectors, food safety requirements were inconsistent given varied procurement strategies, i.e. schools ◼ Different kinds of certifications required ◼ Where certifications were not required, distributors purchasing local produce often verified supplier adherence to food safety practices and overcame logistical challenges ◼ In other cases, buyers purchasing directly often relied solely on verbal assurances and established relationships to address food safety and quality assurances
KEY LESSONS LEARNED ◼ Regardless of market sector, purchasing direct from producer was prioritized, but logistical hurdles faced were also substantial ◼ Perception that intermediaries like food hubs could streamline access to local foods ◼ Regardless of market sector, communication of requirements, expectations, needs, and priorities by buyers to producers was THE KEY take-home message ! ◼ Communication by producers to buyers as to how they meet or don’t meet marketplace criteria was also critically important ! ◼ Not more time but have resources…
RESOURCES ▪ Virginia Produce Safety website ▪ Has wealth of resources to help agents and producers navigate various levels of food safety requirements ▪ Blog/Calendar of events ▪ Research Projects http://www.hort.vt.edu/producesafety/
ACCESSING MARKETS RESOURCES http://www.hort.vt.edu/producesafety/producers/markets.html
THANK YOU
THANK YOU! Resource Experts Amber Vallotton , VA Cooperative Extension; Fresh Produce Food Safety Team Coordinator & Extension Specialist Lindsay Gilmour , Organic Plant LLC; Food Safety Consultant, CFN Co-Chair Rohan Tikekar, Ph.D. , College of Ag & Natural Resources, Dept. of Nutrition & Food Science, UMD; Asst. Professor Respondent Becky Howe , Weaver’s Orchard, Morgantown, PA; Food Safety Director Q&A Moderated by Kristen Markley , Health Care Without Harm, Co-Chair of the Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group Thank you to our sponsors! @chesfoodshed @HCWithoutHarm @MWCOG www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
NEXT STEPS Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group presents: - Food Safety compiled Resources: http://www.chesapeakefoodshed.net/learn/archived-webinars/ - Tomorrow’s webinar, Food Safety Part II 04/10 12-1:15PM EST Understanding Wholesale Buyer Expectations: Digging Deeper on Food Safety Certification, Quality, Post-Harvest Handling & Packaging - Late May/early June: Community Benefit Round-Table Discussions on healthy food initiatives - September: Sustainable Procurement Policy language video call - Healthy Food Playbook is launched! https://foodcommunitybenefit.noharm.org/ Sign up - The CFN HIVE ; & Network email list to stay up-to-date about the Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group, COG’s Local Food Distribution Work Group; events; & opportunities. www.chesapeakefoodshed.net - Join the Chesapeake F2I Google Group: chesapeake-farm-to-institution+subscribe@googlegroups.com Participate - NESAWG 2018! It Takes a Region Conference in Philadelphia, October 25-27 2018 with in-person networking meeting for the Chesapeake Farm to Institution Work Group http://nesawg.org/conference - ***Share feedback with the CFN for today’s webinar & ideas for regional food systems programming: https://tinyurl.com/yc9drcce @chesfoodshed @HCWithoutHarm @MWCOG www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING! UPCOMING CFN EVENTS All times in EST and open to all; Come to the table! For more information & to register, please visit: www.chesapeakefoodshed.net Tomorrow! 04/10 12-1:15PM EST Part 2: Understanding Wholesale Buyer ❖ Expectations: Digging Deeper on Food Safety Certification, Quality, Post-Harvest Handling & Packaging 04/19 1-2PM EST. CFN FRRWG - Food & Resource Recovery Work Group Meeting ❖ 05/24 Time TBD. CFN COEP - Community Ownership, Empowerment, & Prosperity ❖ Action Team Orientation Webinar Please contact Christy Gabbard christy@chesapeakefoodshed.net with ideas for CFN webinars! @chesfoodshed www.chesapeakefoodshed.net
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