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Twilight Meeting: Produce Wash Station Design, Use, and Maintenance
September 26, 2017 @ 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
(note: this meeting is at the main farm on River Rd, and NOT at the Atlas Farm store on Routes 5 & 10 in S. Deerfield)
A functional wash and pack area can improve both workflow and produce safety. FSMA’s Produce Rule states that equipment, tools, and buildings must be of adequate design and able to be cleaned and properly maintained. We will discuss the range of options available for growers of different scales to meet these requirements. We’ll tour the wash house with a recirculating washer-conveyer at Atlas Farm with owner, Gideon Porth and hear about the design of a mobile wash station by Amanda Brown from the UMass Student Farm. We will also cover how to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and keep sanitation records. Extension Educators will be on-hand to give input and answer questions on the following topics:
- Infrastructure upgrade decision-making – Chris Callahan, University of Vermont Extension Agricultural Engineer
- Developing useful SOPs – Amanda Kinchla, UMass Food Science Extension
- Produce safety regulations — Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension
A light dinner will be provided. There is no cost for this program, but please RSVP here. Co-sponsored by UMass Extension and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Contact Lisa McKeag, 413-577-3976.