Operation Spring Plant

TO EMPOWER SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED PRODUCERS WITH THE TOOLS TO IMPROVE THEIR FARMING OPERATION BY IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH, CONSERVING <(>&<)> PROTECTING WATER SOURCES, <(>&<)> PROTECTING THE AIR.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FARM BUSINESSES FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED ANDVETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS: THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TOEQUIP SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS (SDVFR) INNORTH CAROLINA WITH THE TOOLS AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR THEM TO BUILDSUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE FARM BUSINESSES, WHILE INCREASING THEIRPARTICIPATION IN U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PROGRAMS. EXPECTEDRESULTS OF THE PROJECT, ARE AN ENHANCED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ANIMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE OF SDVFR, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. THESUPPORTING OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) IMPROVE AWARENESS AND INCREASEPARTICIPATION AMONG SOCIALLYDISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN USDA FARM PROGRAMS ANDSERVICES. 2) IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF SDVFR IN FARM FINANCIALAND BUSINESS PLANNING, AND MANAGEMENT. 3) ENHANCE THE ABILITIES FORSDVFR TO TRANSFER, OWN AND RETAIN FARMLANDS SUCCESSFULLY. 4) ENHANCE THEKNOWLEDGE OF SDVBFR IN IDENTIFYING AND ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUNDAND PROFITABLE ALTERNATIVE FARM ENTERPRISES THROUGH INNOVATIVE ANDCOST-EFFECTIVEPRODUCTION PRACTICES. 5) INCREASE MARKETING ACTIVITIES FOR SDVFR,IDENTIFY NEW MARKETS, CONNECTING THEM TO EXISTING MARKETS, AND ASSISTTHEM WITH EFFECTIVE MARKETING STRATEGIES. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVEACTIVITIES IN PLANNING, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF TESTED ANDMARKETABLE HIGH VALUE CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. USING OUTREACH,TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE APPROACH, A VARIETY OF TOPICS WILL BEADDRESSED TO PROVIDE SDVFR WITH THE INFORMATION AND SKILLS NEEDED FORTHEM TO SUSTAINABLY OPERATE SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESSES, WHILE INCREASINGTHEIR PARTICIPATION IN USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE PROJECT TARGETSSOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS ANDRANCHERS IN FOURTEEN NORTH CAROLINIAN COUNTIES.

SUPPORT SMALL FAMILY FARMERS AS OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SMAL FAMILY FARMS, THROUGH EDUCATION, TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PREPARING SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND VETERAN BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR SUSTAINABILITY

EXPANDING MARKETS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGE FARMERS AND RANCHERS

EXTENDING PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS

IMPLEMENT NAIS THROUGH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PROJECT SUMMARY:TITLE: REDUCING FOOD SAFETY RISK AT FARM LEVELSUBMITTED BYOPERATION SPRING PLANTSOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AMONG OTHER GROUPS OF FARMERS, ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE FOOD CHAIN SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES, AND AS SUCH, SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING FOOD SAFETY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS GROUP OF FARMERS ALSO PLAYS CRITICAL ROLES IN MANAGING AND MINIMIZING FOOD SAFETY RISKS. WITH OVER THREE DECADES OF WORKING AND INTERACTING WITH SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED IN NORTH CAROLINA, OPERATION SPRING PLANTS (OSP) HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF BARRIERS THEY FACE IN IMPLEMENTING FOOD SAFETY PROGRAMS. SUCH BARRIERS ARE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LACK OF SKILLS IN IDENTIFYING FOOD SAFETY HAZARDS IN THEIR OPERATIONS, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF THE EMERGING NATIONAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS, HIGH COMPLIANCE COSTS, LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ON SAFE AND HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES, AND LACK OF SKILL ON VALUE ADDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THESE PRODUCERS OF TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES LACK UNDERSTANDING OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) AND GOOD HANDLING PRACTICES (GHP) WHICH ARE THE FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST HANDLING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS. THEY DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RECORDS THAT CAN TRACE PRODUCE TO THE FIELD WHERE IT WAS GROWN AND HARVESTED.TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, OSP PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROJECT WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE TOOLS AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR THESE UNDERSERVED FARMERS, TO PRODUCE SAFE AND HEALTHY FOODS, AS WELL AS, INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING: 1.) FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS, 2.) SAFE AND HEALTHY FOODS PRODUCTION PRACTICES, AND 3.) VALUE ADDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT PRODUCERS WILL DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ENSURE THE SAFE AND EFFICIENT PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS WHILE FOCUSING ON THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM SAFETY AND HEALTH OF CONSUMERS. THEY WILL MEET MARKET DEMANDS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGH COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS, WHILE ADJUSTING FOR SHIFTING TECHNOLOGICAL, AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED INCOME FOR THESE PRODUCERS AND IMPROVED QUALITY FOR THEM, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT OF THE CONSUMER AT LARGE.

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE