Early crops are here! Do you have a plan to handle your perishable products properly post-harvest? Every year growers start thinking about the growing season: what unique items to plant; what the markets are demanding, and so on. Now that things are planted or ready to harvest, what else should you start thinking about? Post-harvest handling and food safety go hand-in-hand with improving product quality and shelf-life, and are the key to competing with mainstream supply chains when it comes to direct sales and wholesale markets. In this month’s edition, our expert tip will provide you with steps to improve the quality of your product while simultaneously implementing food safety practices on your farm.

For more guidance and information check out the Good Agricultural Practice for Small Diversified Farms: Tips and Strategies to Reduce Risk and Pass an Audit manual and accompanying videos on our GAP web page. Need more help? CFSA’s Local Produce Safety Initiative provides growers with one-on-one assistance to implement an on-farm food safety program. We offer these services on a first-come-first serve basis to CFSA members for free.

Cheers,

Karen McSwain, CFSA’s Director of Farm Services and Food Systems

P.S. Come work with us! We’re hiring a Local Produce Safety Coordinator. Share far and wide.

P.S.S. Don’t miss the Piedmont Farm Tour, April 22-23! It’s a great way to learn from other sustainable growers!