Ccof Foundation

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TRANSITIONING AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS IN THE U.S. WEST/SOUTHWEST (CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, UTAH, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, AND HAWAII). THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND DATA AND REPORTING. THE RECIPIENT AND PARTNERS WILL PLAN, COORDINATE, AND OVERSEE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DIRECT FARMER MENTORING, FIELD DAYS, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. THE GOAL OF THE AWARD IS TO HELP AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION AND CERTIFICATION, INCLUDING DURING THE THREE-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD PRIOR TO ORGANIC CERTIFICATION. RECIPIENTS WILL TRACK PROGRAM PROGRESS THROUGH DATA COLLECTION AND WILL SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS. THIS PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS THROUGH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND BY CREATING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MATERIALS (FACTSHEETS, WEBINARS) THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE THROUGH USDA AND OTHER CHANNELS. THE AWARD WILL RESULT IN SUBAWARDS TO ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHERS WHO WORK WITH FARMING COMMUNITIES. SUBAWARDEES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT ONE OR MORE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS COORDINATING THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IN THEIR STATE OR DEVELOPING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MATERIALS.

THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THEMULTI-STATE INITIATIVE TOSUPPORT ORGANIC FOOD PROCESSORS WITH FOOD SAFETY COMPLIANCEPROJECT IS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF INFORMED FOOD-SAFETYDECISION MAKING, CONSISTENT COMPLIANCE AND A MORECOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOOD SAFETYMODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA) IN CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON'S SMALL-AND MID- SCALE ORGANICFOOD PROCESSOR COMMUNITY.IN 2011, THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA)WAS ENACTED BY CONGRESS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OFOUR DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY. WHILE MANY PROCESSOR STAFF ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEPREVENTIVE CONTROL FORHUMAN FOOD (PCHF), CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (CGMPS), AND THE PROCESS OF HAZARDANALYSIS IN THE FOOD PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT- THE COMPLEXITY AROUND THEDIFFERING ASPECTS OF FOOD SAFETYREMAINS CONFUSING. FURTHERMORE, ASBURGEONING AND/OR SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES, SMALL-AND MID- SCALEORGANIC FOOD PROCESSORS MAY BEARUNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN IN IMPLEMENTING ASPECTS OF THE LAW, SUCH ASFOOD SAFETY PREVENTIVE CONTROLSALLIANCE (FSPCA) PREVENTIVE CONTROLS QUALIFIEDINDIVIDUAL (PCQI)TRAINING COSTS FOR THEIR STAFF,OR HIRING AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO ASSIST WITH FOOD SAFETY PLAN DEVELOPMENT.IN ADDITION TO CGMPS AND FSMA COMPLIANCE, THERECENT COVID-19 OUTBREAK SPOTLIGHTS THE NEED FOREDUCATION AMONGST THE SMALL TO MEDIUM SCALE FOODPROCESSING COMMUNITY ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASECONTROL IN FOOD PROCESSINGAND PRODUCTION. PROJECT PARTNERS CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH SUPPORT FROM OREGON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WILL PROVIDE BOTH ON-LINE AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS AND TECHNICAL INFOMATION TO SMALL AND MID-SCALE ORGANIC FOOD PROCESSORS TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS, FOLLOW GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. COMBINED ENTITIES REACH OVER 60% OF ALL ORGANIC FOOD PROCESSORS IN CALIFORNIA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON.