Soo Ahn knows the importance of educating farmers market vendors about food safety. For the third year, the assistant professor at the UF food science and human nutrition department at IFAS will host an all-day educational workshop for farmers market managers and vendors April 10 in Ocala.
“The goal of the workshop is (to) help farmers markets’ managers and vendors, both current and future, understand the regulatory requirements, learn food safety practices and provide them with information on how to economically improve the market,” Ahn said.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 405 SE Osceola Ave. on the second- floor training room of the Power Plant Business Incubator. It is limited to the first 40 people due to capacity.
The cost for early registration, until March 31, is $40. Starting April 1, the price will be $50. Those interested in attending the event should register at the Eventbrite website.
Another topic that the workshop will cover is economic developments in the markets. Ahn said this particular class will focus on current trends associated with a new type of consumer.
“We discuss a lot of different payment options or different programs available for farmers markets,” Ahn said, adding that vendors now deal with more digital-based consumers.
Despite the different consumers, it is still important to teach the vendors about the regulations and safety in selling produce at the farmers markets, she said.
Cody Galligan, 37, of Siembra Farm, said he’s been farming for six years and has been organically farming for the last two years. He sells his produce at three different farmers markets, including Union Street Farmers Market and the county farmers market.
“If you’re selling food, you definitely carry a responsibility to be informed about the potential pathogens, bacteria and all that stuff,” Galligan said.
John Steyer, 80, sorts through his vegetables in preparation for the farmers market. Steyer said he grows all of his crops on 24 acres of land.
