WOOSTER, Ohio — Ohio State University’s Fruit and Vegetable Safety Team will hold grower workshops in Zanesville and Newark March 11. The topic of both programs is preventing microbial contamination on fruit and vegetable farms, including the use of Good Agricultural Practices, or GAPs.
The times and locations:
1-4 p.m.; in OSU University Extension’s Muskingum County office; 225 Underwood St., Zanesville.
6-9 p.m.; in Hopewell Hall, Room 53; on Ohio State’s Newark campus, 1189 University Drive, Newark.
Participants will receive a resource workbook, paper handouts and a certificate of participation as verification for their customers that they have received GAPs training.
The workshops don’t provide formal certification in GAPs; that requires a farm audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or a third-party company.
Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Registration is $10 per person, payable by cash or check, with checks made out to Ohio State University.
Participants can reserve a spot in the Zanesville program by contacting mechling.1@osu.edu < or 740-454-0144; and in the Newark program by contacting kneen.1@osu.edu or 740-992-6696.
Financial support for the programs is provided in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Program, which has helped reduce the registration cost.
