Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract: Building on current grant-funded work to reduce regulatory barriers and improve confidence
in farm-to-institution marketplaces for buyers and sellers, WSDA will:
1. Educate school buyers on current regulatory requirements at state and federal level for geographic
preference of Washington-grown specialty crops and pilot sample bid language in 2-3 school
districts
2. Educate Washington-based food processors about school meal market opportunities and recent
federal nutrition standards, and encourage sourcing of Washington specialty crops as ingredients
in new products development for schools
3. Expand online foodservice toolkit to add self-assessment materials, equipment recommendations,
and menus and recipes that meet standards for schools, childcare and senior meal programs, to
support buyers to incorporate Washington Grown specialty crops into their programs
Benefits to Specialty Crop Producers will be a 10% increase in assisted sales, achieved through education
of buyers and sellers about realities and navigation of a complex and recently changing regulatory
environment.
Organization: WSDA Food Safety & Consumer Services
Project: Regulations and Strategies for Direct Marketing Specialty Crop Businesses in Washington State
Award: $163,940
Abstract: WSDA will create 8 specialty crop fact sheets for the WSDA Small Farm and Direct
Marketing Handbook (over 2,000 hardcopies were distributed last year) that cover new trends in smallscale specialty crop production. Fact sheets will cover topics such as new food safety regulations for
CSAs, regulations for businesses conducting on-farm educational workshops, nut processing, agriculinary tourism, nursery products, seed sales, and distilleries. Updates will also be made to existing fact
sheets and the online Handbook will be built into a client-friendly web toolkit featuring concrete
examples of excellent marketing and regulatory compliance via photo examples and embedded videos
that exemplify best practices.
With this dynamic, web-based technology, WSDA will increase efficiencies and expand information for
assisting specialty crop farmers, processors, food companies, and buyers in search of regulations and
marketing support for new, innovative areas of specialty crop business development.
Benefits to cutting edge Specialty Crop Producers will be increased knowledge of successful direct
marketing, product regulations, and increased sales.
Organization: WSDA Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Program and Food Safety & Consumer Services
Project: Bridging the GAPs: Opening Markets for Small, Mid-sized, and Diversified Farms through
GAP/GHP Education for Farmers and Auditors
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