May 8, 2014

Small Farm Post-Harvest Practices Workshop

Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Webinar presentation @ Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office of Mercer County, 930 Spruce Street, Trenton, NJ
Followed by on-farm portion @ Z Food Farm, 3501 Princeton Pike, Lawrence, NJ

Improving post-harvest practices can help minimize produce damage and maximize the amount of quality produce that can be sold at market. Evaluating current post-harvest practices and identifying low-cost improvements is an important part of farm planning, and should be done as early in the season as possible.

Z FOODRutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County and NOFA-NJ welcome Lee Stivers from Penn State Extension as she joins us remotely giving a presentation on post-harvest handling procedures for high-quality, marketable produce via webinar.

The webinar workshop portion will be followed by a farm tour of Z Food Farm’s post-harvest handling set-up. Z Food Farm is a small certified organic farm located in Lawrenceville, NJ.
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Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production
April 30, 2014

Farm Food Safety: Think About Worker Training Now

Farm-Health-HygieneWorker health and hygiene training for farm workers, including family members, is an important step in reducing the risk for human pathogen spread on farms.  Training of workers does not need to be complicated, but does need to be specific to your operation and your farm food safety plan (everyone should have one).

Worker health and hygiene training is required for passing a third party audit.  Documentation must be kept regarding what workers were trained, when they were trained and what materials were used for the training.

A 15 minute training DVD produced by Cornell is available for $20 at both the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County office and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County office.  This DVD is an excellent starting point for the training of farm workers on proper health and hygiene practices.

Filed Under: Food Safety
March 12, 2014

Small/Organic Farms Private Pesticide Applicator Training

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
April 9, 2014 10:00 – 3:00
$20 includes lunch and materials RSVP required by April 4th! Registration form 4/9/14
Contact: Meredith Melendez 609-989-6830 melendez@njaes.rutgers.edu

Topics covered will include:

  • NJ Licensing Regulations
  • The Label is the Law
  • Pesticide Health and Safety
  • Worker Protection Standard
  • Applicator Resources
  • Compliance Inspections
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production
March 11, 2014 and

2014 Food Safety Workshops

There are two remaining farm food safety workshops scheduled for the 2014 growing season.

Wednesday March 19, 9:00 – 4:00
Introduction to Food Safety and Third Party Audits
Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, Pittstown
$40.00 includes materials and lunch
RSVP with 3/19/14 registration form

Wednesday March 26, 9:00 – 4:00
GAPs and Farm Food Safety Writing Workshop
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
$40.00 includes materials and lunch
RSVP with 3/26/14 registration form

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops
November 18, 2013 and

FSMA Comment Period Extended to November 22

The comment period for both the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule has been extended until November 22, 2013.  To review these rules and to comment please click on their titles above.

Filed Under: Food Safety, Vegetable Crops
October 31, 2013

Vegetable Disease ID Workshop

This Workshop is for Small, Beginning, and/or Organic Farm Operators

Date: Friday, November 15th 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
930 Spruce Street, Trenton 08648
Cost: $25.00 includes lunch

Speakers:

  • Disease Suppression with Brassicas and Cover Crops
    Jack Rabin, Director Rutgers Farm Programs
  • Nutrient Deficiency ID vs Disease ID
    Meredith Melendez, Mercer County Senior Program Coordinator
  • Rutgers Pepper Disease and Disorder Research
    Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agriculture Agent
  • Management of Vegetable Diseases
    Andy Wyenandt, Vegetable Pathology Specialist
  • Pesticide Safety for Small Farms
    Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agriculture Agent

Registration required with payment by November 12th
Pesticide credits offered: CORE – 4, PP2 – 6, 10 – 6
For more info call Dana at 609-989-6830

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates