Apr 16, 2019
In This Episode:
>> The differences between Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
>> An explanation of FMSA exemptions
>> A discussion of common food safety myths
>> How systems and record-keeping are the foundation of food
safety plans
Quotes from the Episode:
"Food safety is a constant improvement process...it's about
thinking intentionally about produce safety and adopting good
practices to try to minimize risk"
"You can't clean what you can't see and you can't sanitize what you
can't clean"
About the Guests:
Andy Chamberlin grew up on his families Vegetable Farm in
Underhill, Vermont. After going to school for mechanical
engineering, and entering the workforce he discovered he needed to
be out and about, making a difference in peoples lives, and the
passion for farming never wilted away. Now, as an Ag Engineer for
UVM Extension, he gets to work with fruit and vegetable farms in
Vermont, and the North East educating farmers on produce safety and
post-harvest handling, trying to improve the lives and business of
the people that he works with.
Chris Callahan is the Extension Associate Professor of Agricultural
Engineering at the University of Vermont. His work focuses on the
application of the engineering practice to food systems. Specific
engagement is with food producers, processors, and distributors to
improve efficiency, quality, safety and cost control through
integration of technology, systems integration and process
controls
Hans Estrin is a Produce Safety Specialist for UVM Extension. He
co-develop UVM’s Practical Produce Safety Program in 2010, and
since 2014, has developed and coordinate the Community
Accreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS) with the Vermont Vegetable
and Berry Growers Association. As an On Farm Readiness Review
(OFRR) lead for Extension, Hans provides on-farm technical support
to help Vermont growers comply with FSMA and meet market
expectations. Hans is an AFDO certified PSR trainer in produce
safety, and regularly co-leads Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower
training courses.
Hans also coordinates UVM Extension’s Post Harvest Team, focused on
a team approach to integrating efficiency, profitability and food
safety on Vermont Produce Farms. Hans further supports the
development of local produce markets and businesses; He co-founded
the Windham Farm and Food Network (now Food Connects), helped
launch VT Dinners and Manadnock Menus, and has supported the
start-up other Vermont Food Hubs. In his former career, Hans taught
high school science for decades, around the globe, and worked on
several produce farms.