Month: November 2019

Save the Date, Feb 13: UVM Apple Program / VT Tree Fruit Growers Assn Annual Meeting

By Terence Bradshaw

The 124th annual UVM Apple Program / VT Tree Fruit Growers Association annual educational meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2020. It will again be held at the American Legion in Middlebury, VT. We are building a particularly interesting slate of speakers and presentations- stay tuned for that information. Registration will be forthcoming.

http://go.uvm.edu/applemtg

See you in February,

Terry

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification,

no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.

Always read the label before using any pesticide.

The label is the legal document for the product use.

Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the

label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the

University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM

Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

Produce Safety Improvement Grant program – Accepting Applications

Passing on from the VT Agency of Agriculture- TB

Good Morning all,

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is accepting applications for the Produce Safety Improvement Grant program until Monday, December 9th, 2019 at 11:59 PM. The Request for Applications is posted on the grant program webpage at this link – agriculture.vermont.gov/ProduceSafetyGrants

Please share this opportunity with your contacts and feel free to copy the message below, thank you! We appreciate your help in spreading the word.

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Produce Safety Improvement Grant Program

Apply Now For Up to $7,000

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is now accepting applications for the Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grant program. Produce Safety Improvement Grants can partially defray the costs of implementing on-farm food safety practices to help vegetable and fruit growers transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and/or meet market demands for on-farm food safety.

Awards will range from $2,000 to $7,000. PSIG funds can be used for any of the following, but are not limited to: harvest, wash, pack, and storage supplies; wash/pack area construction or renovation; monitoring/control devices; handwashing stations; cleaning/sanitization tools; health and hygiene signage; compost/manure handling improvements; and materials and systems to improve training and record-keeping.

Applicants must grow, harvest, pack, or hold “covered produce” as defined by the U.S. FSMA Produce Safety Rule and have average annual produce sales of greater than $27,528 over the past three years. ­­The term covered produce includes any raw fruit or vegetable commonly consumed raw, as defined by the FDA. More information can be found in the FY2020 PSIG RFA, located at agriculture.vermont.gov/ProduceSafetyGrants.

How to Apply

· Mark your calendars! Grant applications will be accepted no later than Monday, December 9, 2019 at 11:59 pm.

· Download the FY2020 PSIG Request for Applications (RFA) here.

Please note: Farms that were previously awarded a Produce Safety Improvement Grant are ineligible to apply for a grant in this round.

Technical Assistance

We encourage applicants to contact the University of Vermont Extension Produce Safety Team for technical assistance while developing applications and during implementation of projects. Contact: producesafety.

Questions related to Produce Safety Improvement Grant program or the FSMA Produce Safety Rule should be directed to Gina Clithero at (802) 585-6225 or gina.clithero.

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Dominique Giroux

Produce Program Outreach & Education Coordinator

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

116 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620

dominique.giroux | (802) 522-3132

agriculture.vermont.gov/produceprogram

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Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grant Applications Open November 1

For Immediate Release:

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grant Applications Open November 1

Apply Now For Up to $7,000

November 1, 2019 | Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is now accepting applications for the Vermont Produce Improvement Grant program. Produce Safety Improvement Grants (PSIG) can partially defray the costs of implementing on-farm food safety practices to help vegetable and fruit growers transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and/or meet market demands for on-farm food safety.

Awards will range from $2,000 to $7,000. PSIG funds can be used for any of the following, but are not limited to: harvest, wash, pack, and storage supplies; wash/pack area construction or renovation; monitoring/control devices; handwashing stations; cleaning/sanitization tools; health and hygiene signage; compost/manure handling improvements; and materials and systems to improve training and record-keeping.

“Vermont farmers are dedicated to quality and community,” remarks Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts. “By investing in produce safety improvements, growers can improve operational efficiencies, reach new markets, and improve the quality of their end products.” These grants are important to Vermont’s efforts to support growers before and while the state regulates on-farm food safety under the federal food safety rule. “We are proud to support Vermont produce growers in obtaining essential infrastructure and training to reduce food safety risks and stay competitive in today’s market,” Tebbetts said.

Applicants must grow, harvest, pack, or hold “covered produce” as defined by the U.S. FSMA Produce Safety Rule and have average annual produce sales of greater than $27,528 over the past three years.1

How to Apply

• Mark your calendars! Grant applications will be accepted no later than Monday, December 9, 2019 at 11:59 pm.

• Visit agriculture.vermont.gov/ProduceSafetyGrants to download the FY2020 PSIG Request for Applications (RFA).

To date, the Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grant program has awarded $204,000 in grants to 29 Vermont farms. All PSIG grantees have seen broad, positive impacts on their farms as a result of completing produce safety projects, such as increased efficiency, worker satisfaction, produce quality, or production capacity. Approximately $51,000, provided by the Vermont State Legislature, the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and Castanea Foundation, is available for this fourth round of PSIG funding. With limited funding available, VAAFM prioritizes reaching as many produce farms as possible to support on-farm projects that minimize food safety risks. To that end, applications for this round of funding will not be accepted from farms that previously received a Produce Safety Improvement Grant.

Questions related to Produce Safety Improvement Grants or the FSMA Produce Safety Rule should be directed to Gina Clithero at (802) 585-6225 or AGR.FSMA.

1 ­­The term covered produce includes any raw fruit or vegetable commonly consumed raw, as defined by the FDA. More information can be found in the FY2020 PSIG RFA, located at agriculture.vermont.gov/ProduceSafetyGrants.

Contact:
Gina Clithero
Produce Program | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets
(802) 585-6225 | gina.clithero

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Scott Waterman

Policy and Communications Director | VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

802-622-4662 | scott.waterman

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