Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Sampling Requirements Clarified

There seems to be a lot of confusion over the new sampling requirements. Let me see if I can clear things up.
If the producer is going to offer samples of a value-added product or something cooked they need to read the chapter in the new manual and take a simple test on the official form and return it to me. Since the test is open book, you must get 100% right to qualify. Manuals will be sent to markets when they turn back in their registration for 2008. The person cannot be "certified" until the market is registered anyway and this gives markets an added incentive to update their registration in a timely manner.
If the producer will be offering samples of RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS such as tomatoes, melons, etc. the producer needs to also complete GAP training. You either got this at the last FM summit or you can get it at the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. Also, many local Extension agents are trainers as well.
All of the verification of trainings must come to me at KDA and all certificates will be issued at KDA.
I think we have made this as simple for producers as possible. One key to this is making sure your market returns the market registration form that you will receive in mid-January as soon as possible. This means you will have to determine your opening day, market days, hours and locations ASAP.
There will be a "class" of sorts at the KFMA annual meeting. Those folks will receive their certificates as soon as their markets register. This will also serve as a test run for the test itself so some changes may be made after this first "class." To make sure I am clear – after this initial "class" folks will be able to read the chapter and take the test at their leisure, but must receive their certificate prior to any sampling.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

After attending the Jan6 conference all of my questions were cleared up. Janet has done an out standing job