On-Farm Food Safety/Wholesale Success Training Workshops Available for
Small to Mid-Acreage Produce Farmers

April 29, 2013 – We are pleased to announce the opportunity to bring an On-Farm Food Safety/ Wholesale Success training workshop to your network of produce farmers. For the past five years, FamilyFarmed.org and on-the-ground partners have trained thousands of growers across the U.S. on how to better meet wholesale buyers’ expectations for product quality, consistency and food safety.

Workshop participants will learn about:

• Proper pre/post-harvest handling techniques
• Maintaining the cold chain
• Cleaning and drying
• Packing and grading
• Developing relationships with buyers
• Food safety best practices
• Needs of wholesale buyers

FamilyFarmed.org will work with your organization to customize the workshop for your fruit and vegetable growers. Through this program, we will:

• Provide participating farmers with our recently updated 312-page technical assistance manual, Wholesale Success: A Farmer’s Guide to Food Safety, Selling, Postharvest Handling, and Packing Produce
• Conduct a workshop, based on the manual, that is presented by our seasoned farmer/trainer Atina Diffley
• Provide continuing assistance to participants who want to complete a customized food safety plan using our free, online on-farm food safety tool (available in English and Spanish).

Who do we partner with to provide these trainings?

• Wholesale/institutional buyers • Food hubs and packinghouses
• Non-profit organizations • Farmers markets
• University Extension offices • Departments of Agriculture • Farmer Cooperatives/Auctions

For more information about our workshops, including financing/grant options, please contact James Pirovano. We anticipate applying for several federal grants in the coming weeks so please don’t delay! 

Our fantastic trainer, Atina Diffley on why wholesale is so important:

The ninth annual Good Food Festival and Conference was a huge success!  Have you heard the great announcements from Friday’s Opening Symposium?

Midway Airport, McCormick Place, and Chicago Public Schools committed to increasing their local and sustainable food programs! Collectively these institutions serve over 1.5 million meals per day.

McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, announced its intention to source 15% of its food from local and sustainable sources. Premier Restaurant Group, the foodservice provider at Midway Airport, has chosen to partner with FamilyFarmed.org to source local and organic produce, plus meat and poultry raised without antibiotics.  They have also committed to purchasing up to 10% of their food from local and sustainable sources.  Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, the foodservice provider for the Chicago Public Schools has purchased more than $4.2 million in produce from regional farmers over the past three school years, and is working with FamilyFarmed.org to expand this program to all schools in its system, a 35% increase.

FamilyFarmed.org is excited to be working with these companies, and committed to expanding local and sustainable food systems across Chicago, the Midwest, and the US.

Read the full story here!

For the 2013-2014 school year, Chartwells and Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality (Chartwells) is seeking fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as frozen chicken drumsticks from Midwest farmers and processors to feed students from Chicago Public Schools, and other students in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. To assist with the procurement process, we are asking farmers, processors, and distributors to respond to specific needs of Chartwells. Requests for Information are available below, and should be submitted to rfi@familyfarmed.org by March 23, 2013.

For this school year, it is the goal of Chartwells to purchase enough Midwest fresh and frozen produce, and antibiotic-free chicken to feed one million students. Chartwells will pay market prices for both (FOB Chicago).

Requirements for product and/or producers include:

• Respondents must indicate their ability to provide produce that meets the variety, grade, and packing specifications outlined in the RFI’s and indicate what amount they have the capacity to supply
• Farms must be within 250 miles of Chicago

Additionally, respondents must confirm the following:

• Product liability insurance of at least $1 million
• Food Safety Certification (USDA, GAP/GHP certification or third party equivalent)
•  HAACCP certified if animals are present on farm or if processed/frozen product

Please download and return these Requests for Information before March 23, 2013.

Produce Chartwells RFI

Chicken Chartwells RFI