North Central Region Produce Grower Training: Pretest and Posttest Knowledge Change and Produce Safety Behavior Assessment

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether there was knowledge gain and behavioral change by produce growers within the North Central Region (NCR) of the United States who participated in the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training. Over a 2-year period, the 25-question knowledge assessment was administered to participants (n = 2,286) at the beginning and at the end of each 8-h training to measure knowledge gain. Behavioral change was assessed using a survey 12 months after the training. Average scores measuring the participants' knowledge increased significantly from pretest (16.1 of 25, 68%) to posttest (20.0 of 25, 80%) (P = 0.001). On average, participants in trainings not targeting special populations (n = 1,735) improved their scores more than participants in trainings for special populations (n = 509) (P = 0.001). Of growers, 199 (72%) of 276 who responded to the follow-up survey indicated that they had made a behavioral change, such as writing or modifying farm food safety plans (n = 108), implementing different training for employees on food safety (n = 108), and modifying food record-keeping systems (n = 98). The results indicate that behavioral change did not correlate with knowledge gain. Educational materials should be developed to encourage both knowledge and behavioral change.

Assessing produce safety rule knowledge, behavior change, compliance, and the development of resources of specialty crop produce growers in the US: North Central Region, Alabama, Georgia

“…High percentages of respondents having selected already implementing a practice prior to completing the PSA Grower Training Course may be an indication that they were already aware of these practices or had high knowledge in these areas (Perry et al, 2021). Further research is needed to decipher whether there is correlation between how often an individual implemented a food safety practice and the amount or type of food safety trainings they have completed.…”

“…The average age of all U.S. farm producers in 2017 was 57.5 years of age; however, producers were found to be older in southern states and younger in midwestern states on average (USDA, 2019b). Perry et al (2019) found that the average age of produce growers surveyed in the NCR (48.9 years of age) was less than that of the average of all operators in the U.S. in 2012 (56.3 years of age) and 2017 (57.5 years of ag) according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) agricultural census (USDA, 2019b). NCR produce growers have been farming for ten years on average, with males (53.5 percent) farming an average of four years longer than females (44.3 percent) (Perry et al, 2019).…”

“…Perry et al (2019) found that the average age of produce growers surveyed in the NCR (48.9 years of age) was less than that of the average of all operators in the U.S. in 2012 (56.3 years of age) and 2017 (57.5 years of ag) according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) agricultural census (USDA, 2019b). NCR produce growers have been farming for ten years on average, with males (53.5 percent) farming an average of four years longer than females (44.3 percent) (Perry et al, 2019). Twenty-seven percent of U.S. producers were beginning farmers in 2017 (USDA, 2019b).…”

“…Twenty-seven percent of U.S. producers were beginning farmers in 2017 (USDA, 2019b). Perry et al, 2019 found that 69.7 percent of NCR produce growers were beginning farmers.…”

“…Chapters 2 through 4 are prepared manuscripts. Chapter 2, "Assessment of Midwest Growers' Needs for Compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule" was published in The Journal of Food Protection (Perry et al, 2019).…”