Farmers Union Foundation

LOCAL FOOD SAFETY COLLABORATIVE

ENABLING LOCAL PRODUCE GROWERS AND PROCESSORS TO COMPLY WITH THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA) THROUGH SPECIALIZED, NEEDS-SPECIFIC RESOURCES A

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION WITH PURCHASING STATE-OF-THE-ART MOBILE MEAT SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE USED FOR DIRECT INSTRUCTION AT TWO COLLEGES AND OTHER SITES, FOR HOSTING APPRENTICESHIPS, AND OFFERING INFORMAL PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN STAPLES, MINNESOTA. THE PROJECT WILL HELP THE REGION RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC-RELATED JOB LOSSES AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE LACK OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE MEAT PROCESSING INDUSTRY AND EXPOSED VULNERABILITIES IN THE U.S. MEAT PROCESSING SYSTEM. AMONG THOSE VULNERABILITIES IS A LACK OF SKILLED WORKERS WHERE MEAT PROCESSING JOBS ARE LOCATED. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE AND RIDGEWATER COLLEGE, THE FOUNDATION WILL TRAIN ADULTS AND NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS FOR IN-DEMAND MEAT PROCESSING JOBS IN MINNESOTA. TWO MEAT PROCESSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WILL BE LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS TO QUICKLY GAIN GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN THE HIGH-DEMAND MEAT PROCESSING INDUSTRY. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THE REGION BY SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION.

MEAT AND POULTRY INTERMEDIARY RELENDING GRANT

THIS EDA INVESTMENT AMENDMENT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION WITH PURCHASING STATE-OF-THE-ART MOBILE MEAT SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE USED FOR DIRECT INSTRUCTION AT TWO COLLEGES AND OTHER SITES, FOR HOSTING APPRENTICESHIPS, AND OFFERING INFORMAL PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN STAPLES, MINNESOTA. THE PROJECT WILL HELP THE REGION RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC-RELATED JOB LOSSES AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE LACK OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE MEAT PROCESSING INDUSTRY AND EXPOSED VULNERABILITIES IN THE U.S. MEAT PROCESSING SYSTEM. AMONG THOSE VULNERABILITIES IS A LACK OF SKILLED WORKERS WHERE MEAT PROCESSING JOBS ARE LOCATED. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE AND RIDGEWATER COLLEGE, THE FOUNDATION WILL TRAIN ADULTS AND NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS FOR IN-DEMAND MEAT PROCESSING JOBS IN MINNESOTA. TWO MEAT PROCESSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WILL BE LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS TO QUICKLY GAIN GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN THE HIGH-DEMAND MEAT PROCESSING INDUSTRY. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THE REGION BY SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION.

AS CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY DESIRE TO CONNECT TO THEIR FOOD AND ITS ORIGIN, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION (NFUF) BELIEVES THAT FSMA COMPLIANCE WILL ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES BY ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THAT LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCTS ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY. DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO PROMOTE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE AWARENESS AND ADHERENCE WILL FACILITATE THE CONTINUANCE OF THIS POSITIVE TREND. OUR PROJECT IS MOTIVATED BY A RECOGNITION THAT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS IN THE MIDWEST REGION, OFTEN SMALL-SCALE DIVERSIFIED FARMING OPERATIONS, FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN COMPLYING WITH FSMA REGULATIONS.ACCORDINGLY, THIS PROJECT WILL ENHANCE THE FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE OF A DIVERSE POPULATION OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS BY IMPLEMENTING, PROMOTING, AND FACILITATING ACCESS TO FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND INITIATING CROSS-STATE COLLABORATION IN THE MIDWESTERN REGION FOR PURPOSES OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND OUTREACH.