Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network


SAFEFOOD NEWS - Summer 2002 - Vol 6, No. 4

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Follow-Up of Farmers' Market Training

Last summer (v5, #4) we reported on the results of a series of workshops held with Colorado growers and farmers' market managers on ensuring the quality and safety of produce from farm to market, with special emphasis on how to implement new guidelines for samples offered at farmers' markets. Results of surveys administered directly after the workshops indicated that the workshops were a success. Following the summer 2001 market season, we interviewed workshop participants about their experiences with the new produce sampling guidelines. Of the initial 137 workshop participants, 58 growers and 16 market managers (54% total cooperation rate) agreed to participate in a six-month follow-up survey. Here's what we found:

• Of the 58 growers surveyed, 45% offered samples during the 2001 season.
• For the 32 workshop participants who chose not to offer samples, the most common reasons for not offering samples were that it was too difficult (28%), the grower was too busy to follow the guidelines (25%), or the grower did not have produce appropriate for sampling (31%).
• The 26 growers/vendors who did offer samples at farmers' markets were further surveyed regarding their adoption of recommended sampling guidelines. While many of those surveyed reported that they were already following the recommended sampling guidelines, many indicated they had adopted or strengthened at least 4 of the 6 guidelines.
• 44% said they were now more likely to wash their hands frequently between offering product samples than they were before the workshop.
• One-third of respondents said washing produce used for samples with potable water before cutting was a new or strengthened behavior.
• Using sanitized knives, utensils and cutting boards for cutting produce samples and using single-service items to distribute samples were new or improved behaviors for 27% and 31% of respondents, respectively.
• The two behaviors that growers and vendors seemed resistant to adopt were using ice or a cool ice chest to hold cut samples and keeping product samples covered between samplings. While 9 and 24% of respondents said they had adopted these 2 behaviors, respectively, 57% and 44% said they didn't follow these behaviors during the season.
• Most market managers (10 of 13 respondents) felt that between 80 and 100% of vendors at their markets who offered samples implemented the sampling guidelines.
• About half (56%) of market managers reported setting up a hand washing station at their markets; most of these stations (7 of 9) were intended for both vendors' and consumers' use.

Further questioning during interviews with growers indicated that there were many reasons that contributed to lack of compliance with the sampling guidelines, including sample turnover rate (those who used one fruit at a time didn't see the need to use ice), environmental factors (covers on food often blew away), and amount of help (those who worked alone found it hard to keep up the guidelines). However, after learning safe food handling techniques, many growers realized that they would not be able to offer samples properly and therefore did not offer samples at all. Increased food safety awareness on the part of growers and continued enforcement of the guidelines by market managers will help to ensure that our farmers' markets are safe and enjoyable.

Updated Monday, August 29, 2011