Renewing the Countryside is partnering with Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture to bring four post harvest handling workshops this March 2015.  

These half day workshops will be presented by farmers Lisa Baker of Bakers’ Acres, Laura Frerichs of Loon Organics and Joan Olson of Prairie Drifter Farm.  They will cover a range of topics from on farm food safety to sorting and grading to transport.

The cost to attend is $20 for the first person and $10 for the second if coming from the same farm (fee includes lunch). Workshop attendees will also get a discounted rate for the Wholesale Success book that can be purchased at the workshop.

Participants also will receive a free copy ($10 value) of Farm Food Safety Decision Trees For Fruit and Vegetable Growers. By, Elizabeth A. Bihn, Ph.D., Michele A. Schermann, R.N., M.S., Annette L. Wszelaki, Ph.D., Gretchen L. Wall, M.S., and Susannah K. Amundson, M.S. With limited time, money, and available labor, produce farms must learn how to prioritize which practices to use on their farm to reduce food safety risks as well as achieve business goals. These Decision Trees were created to help you prioritize your farm food safety practices and begin to build your own farm food safety plan.

These Decision Trees are intended to:

· Help you begin to identify food safety risks and practices that reduce risks,

· Help you prioritize implementation of practices to use your resources most eciently, and;

· Familiarize you with the terminology, tools, and methods you may need to use to meet the requirements and expectations of your customers as well as future regulations for produce.

WORKSHOP DATES:

St. Charles -- March 3 -- Lisa Baker (Bakers' Acres)- 10AM-3PM

Fairmont -- March 5 -- Joan Olson (Prairie Drifter Farm)- 10AM-3PM

Little Falls -- March 20 -- Lisa Baker (Bakers' Acres)- 10AM-3PM

Cannon Falls -- March 25 -- Laura Frerichs (Loon Organics)- 10AM-3PM

REGISTER: 

Please visit http://www.renewingthecountryside.org/calendar to register for the date and location that works best for you.  If you have any questions, please contact Devon at [email protected].