Two Important Updates Scheduled for Commercial Produce and Fruit Growers
There are 2 important programs coming to North Central Indiana that our local commercial produce and fruit growers should attend.
Disease Management Update
The first program on Monday, February 17 will focus on disease management. Growers have seen an uptick in diseases in vegetables in recent years. Some of these issues were seed borne, others spread by the wind or tools. Growers are telling me they need advice. Dr. Cesar Guardado, Purdue’s newest member of the vegetable growers’ team, will be visiting Goshen to talk about techniques, both before and after planting the crops, to minimize disease pressure.
Cesar will be discussing a technique called hot water bath that can help kill seed borne disease. He also plans to talk about using fungicides more effectively, and give us an update on fungicide usage. This program will include PARP credit for $10 for those with a private applicators license.
This disease management program will be held from 6 to 9 pm Eastern time in the Home and Family Arts Building on the Elkhart County Fairgrounds, 17746 Co Rd 34 near Goshen.
Produce Safety Training
The second program is a Produce Safety Alliance Training. This training is important for those who sell produce and fruit to be consumed by the public. Among other things, safety concerns require growers have a traceability system in place in the event a foodborne illness breaks out, as well as adopt practices to minimize the chance of contamination.
The produce safety rules have been known under several names. GAPS, or Good Agricultural Practices, and FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) are two names you may be familiar with. Our local produce auctions in LaGrange and Wakarusa already follow those guidelines, as do most of our larger and more experienced growers in the region.
The safety guidelines were recently revised, and there is a need to update everyone even if you had FSMA/GAPS training in the past. Major revisions to the rules include changes in the way water is applied to crops and how it is used to wash produce post-harvest. We will also discuss using compost, manure and other amendments in produce fields. We will even talk about worker health, hygiene and keeping people safe.
The Produce Safety Training will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, from noon until 8 pm Eastern time, at the home of David Fry, 0690 W 100 S, LaGrange. The grower community will be providing an evening meal, so please call my office at 260-499-6334 to help us plan for the crowd and the handouts we must prepare.
The other good news is the Produce Safety Alliance Training is typically $125 per person, but thanks to a grant from the Indiana Farmers Market Community, this program will have no cost. Thank you!
