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Friday, December 16, 2011

FW: Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Introduces New Risk Management Tool to Help Producers Achieve GAP Certification

FYI!

 

Enjoy the weekend,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USDA Office of Communications <usda@public.govdelivery.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Subject: Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Introduces New Risk Management Tool to Help Producers Achieve GAP Certification
To: hdombalis@sustainableagriculture.net

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Release No. 0517.11

Contact:

USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-3088

 

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Introduces New Risk Management Tool to Help Producers Achieve GAP Certification

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2011—Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, along with leaders from food and agriculture organizations, introduced today a free online tool to help U.S. producers of all sizes achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) harmonized standards and certification, helping to further expand economic opportunities for American agriculture. USDA's GAP audit verification program focuses on best agricultural practices to verify that farms are producing, and packers are handling and storing, fruits and vegetables in the safest manner possible to minimize food safety hazards. The free online tool—developed by FamilyFarmed.org with funding from USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA)—helps farmers design a customized manual to meet GAP harmonized standards and certification requirements, including USDA GAP standards, and mitigate business risks by answering just a few questions.

"USDA believes that a strong farm safety net—including effective, market-based risk solutions for producers of all variety and size—is crucial to sustain the vitality of American agriculture," said Merrigan. "Effectively managing risk is important to all producers, and having an acceptable food safety program is in the best interest of consumers, buyers, and the farmers themselves. USDA is proud to have worked with private, public and non-profit partners to introduce this free tool to farmers seeking to gain certification as a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) producer."

The online tool, part of FamilyFarmed.org's On-Farm Food Safety Project, is the first of its kind and was developed by a broad coalition of farm and produce industry partners. It is available at http://www.onfarmfoodsafety.org/.

USDA's GAP audit verification program, administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), focuses on best agricultural practices to verify that farms are producing fruits and vegetables in the safest manner possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. USDA's voluntary audit based program verifies adherence to the recommendations made in the Food and Drug Administration's Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

To generate a food safety plan using the tool, the user must answer a series of questions on topics including worker health and hygiene, agricultural water, previous land use, soil amendments and manure, animals and pest control, packinghouse activities, product transportation, agricultural chemicals, and field harvesting. In addition to helping farmers create a food safety plan, the tool offers farmers a full-set of record keeping templates to document their food safety efforts as well as useful food safety resources.

Once users have completed their farm's food safety plan and compiled necessary documentation, they have the capacity to apply for GAP food safety certification, a process asked for by many larger buyers. Large buyers including Compass Group, SYSCO, and Chipotle Mexican Grill supported the project financially and with technical assistance. Groups that participated in the development and review of the tool include: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Compass Group, Earthbound Farm, Farm Aid, FDA, NSF Agriculture, Produce Marketing Association, SYSCO, The Organic Center, Western Growers, Wallace Center at Winrock International, Wild Farm Alliance, University of California at Davis, United Fresh Produce Association, and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's leadership, has worked tirelessly to strengthen rural America, implement the Farm Bill, maintain a strong farm safety net, and create opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its best years in decades thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers. Today, net farm income is at record levels while debt has been cut in half since the 1980s. Overall, American agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 86 percent of the food we consume, while maintaining affordability and choice. The Obama Administration has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade, helping to push agricultural exports to record levels in 2011 and beyond. Strong agricultural exports are a positive contribution to the U.S. trade balance, support more than 1 million American jobs and boost economic growth.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 (voice), or 202-720-6382 (TDD).


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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).




--
Helen Dombalis, Policy Associate
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 209
Washington, DC 20002
phone: (202) 547-5754
fax: (202) 547-1837
email:  hdombalis@sustainableagriculture.net
website:  http://sustainableagriculture.net
blog: http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

FW: Extended to 12/15/11 - Academic Specialist/ Outreach Position - C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University

Apologies for cross-posting. Please see information below about this Academic Specialist position opening with the Mott Group at MSU. Note that the deadline has been extended to 12/15/11. Please pass this along to others who may be interested and qualified.

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

From: Pirog, Rich
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 12:06 PM
Subject: Extended to 12/15/11 - Academic Specialist/ Outreach Position - C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University

 

 

PLEAE NOTE: that the closing date for this position has been extended to Thursday, December 15, 2011.

 

A  position description summary is  listed below.  Individuals interested in learning more about this position and/or applying should go to:

 

 

to review additional position information.  

 

If the link above does not get you directly to the job posting, go to:

 

 

and search for  faculty/academic staff position # 5469.

 

 Application deadline is December 15, 2011

 

Individuals with questions about the position can contact me at the e-mail below. -----Rich Pirog – Senior Associate Director, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

 

Position Summary

Play a lead role in coordinating and submitting large research grant proposals on behalf of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems (C.S. Mott Group); 
Serve as the point of contact for inquiries about the C.S. Mott Group's research and/or outreach programs; 
Coordinate development and expansion of the C.S. Mott Group's web site, posting research and outreach project results as well as marketing of the C.S. Mott Group's programs; 
Play a lead role in coordinating and submitting large outreach grant proposals on behalf of the C.S. Mott Group; 
Check in regularly with staff and faculty affiliates to stay abreast of project opportunities and provide support on existing grants where needed; 
Provide presentations on the C.S. Mott Group's research and outreach programs to MSU and non-MSU audiences as needed; 
Serve as coordinator for C.S. Mott Group's advisory board meetings.  

 

Required: A Master's in Business Admin, Communications science, or related food, agriculture, and health disciplines. 

 

Rich Pirog

Senior Associate Director

C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

CARRS

313 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

 

Phone:  517-353-0694

E-mail: rspirog@msu.edu



Thursday, December 1, 2011

FW: Position Posting - Academic Specialist/ Outreach - C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU

 

Greetings,

Please note that the deadline for applications for this position with the Mott Group at MSU is December 8th (next week). Please do share this position posting with others who may be interested and qualified.

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 



Hello:

 

A  position description summary is  listed below.  Individuals interested in learning more about this position and/or applying should go to:

 

 

to review additional position information.  

 

If the link above does not get you directly to the job posting, go to:

 

 

and search for  faculty/academic staff position # 5469.

 

 Application deadline is December 8, 2011

 

Individuals with questions about the position can contact me at the e-mail below.  Rich Pirog – Senior Associate Director, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

 

Position Summary

Play a lead role in coordinating and submitting large research grant proposals on behalf of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems (C.S. Mott Group); 
Serve as the point of contact for inquiries about the C.S. Mott Group's research and/or outreach programs; 
Coordinate development and expansion of the C.S. Mott Group's web site, posting research and outreach project results as well as marketing of the C.S. Mott Group's programs; 
Play a lead role in coordinating and submitting large outreach grant proposals on behalf of the C.S. Mott Group; 
Check in regularly with staff and faculty affiliates to stay abreast of project opportunities and provide support on existing grants where needed; 
Provide presentations on the C.S. Mott Group's research and outreach programs to MSU and non-MSU audiences as needed; 
Serve as coordinator for C.S. Mott Group's advisory board meetings.  

 

Required: A Master's in Business Admin, Communications science, or related food, agriculture, and health disciplines. 

 

Rich Pirog

Senior Associate Director

C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

CARRS

313 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

 

Phone:  517-353-0694

E-mail: rspirog@msu.edu