PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University will offer a free workshop on good agricultural and food safety practices for direct marketers of food and agricultural products on Tuesday, Jan. 27, in Union Gap.
“The objective of the workshop is to increase the understanding of critical food safety issues by people who sell agricultural products at roadside stands and farmers markets,” said Richard Dougherty, WSU food science specialist.
Good agricultural practices, known as GAPs, are on-the-farm practices that affect safety of raw products intended to be sold without further processing, Dougherty said. They include practices that address water quality, worker sanitation and proper use of animal manures.
The workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room A at the Yakima Valley Community Restitution Center, 2403 S. 18th St.
Additional workshops will be held Feb. 2, Spokane; Feb. 3, Wenatchee; Feb. 4, Mount Vernon; Feb. 5, Renton; Feb. 6, Bremerton; and Feb. 9, Puyallup.
Contact Dougherty at (509) 335-0972 or dougherty@wsu.edu for more information on the program. Call Extension Meeting Management and Program Support at (509) 335-2811 for information on arrangements.
The workshop is sponsored by the Small Farm Direct Marketing Program of the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
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