A Farmer’s Market Food Safety training session will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, March 18, at the Pike County Extension Office at 306 South Three Notch Street in Troy.
The training is for all local growers who sell at the market and anyone else who would like to gain knowledge on how to keep produce safe.
“Buying home or locally grown produce at a farmer’s market is a good way to ensure getting the freshest food possible but it doesn’t guarantee that the produce is safe,” said Grant Lyons, Pike County Extension coordinator. “Any food grown must be safely handled on the farm as well as at the market. Putting small practices into place will help ensure that the food is safe from the farm to the table.”
The training will offer basic safe food practices when harvesting fruits and vegetables, storing, transporting and handling while at the market.
“Those who participate will also learn about how food-borne illness can occur and which populations are at greatest risk,” Lyons said.
“Those who complete the training will receive a certificate that can be set up at their market stations and can be viewed by those attending the market.”
Other resources and materials will also be available and used at the market stations.
To register for the Farmer’s Market Food Safety training session, contact the Pike County Extension office at 334-566-0985. The registration fee is $5.
A light lunch will be provided following the training.