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By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education
2021 Food Safety Classes Recap It was the first of its kind, but it went off without a hitch. 2021 marked the first year that the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) embarked on virtual food safety training by offering the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification via Zoom. Twenty-three people from nine WPVGA grower/member organizations patiently participated, March 30-31, in two full days of online discussions and presentations. While some were first-time attendees, others participated to update their certificates. Geri Barone of Food Auditing Solutions, Illinois, facilitated the training and set up Zoom classrooms to aid in the group breakout sessions. While not the same as in-person training, WPVGA appreciated being able to offer the class, especially considering that some growers needed their certificates by a specific date. Since incorporating food safety
training into its programming, WPVGA has helped growers stay up to date with ever-changing requirements facing the industry while also helping them learn from each other regarding the crops they produce. OUT-OF-STATE GROWERS The annual training has also caught the eyes of some out-of-state growers who have become WPVGA members to attend training and maintained their memberships to continue receiving the association’s publications. While HACCP is the only training that has been offered so far this year, additional classes are on the docket. At what dates they occur, however, will depend on when new versions of each scheme are released. WPVGA plans to hold classes on the newest versions of USDA’s Harmonized GAP Plus audit scheme (to be called Harmonized GAP Plus+) as well as that of Primus GFS. The USDA has received information on updates to the Harmonized GAP Plus scheme, so please watch the
Above: Participants in the first-ever virtual food safety HACCP class flash a smile and “thumbs up” on Zoom as they begin the two-day training, March 30-31. Pictured left to right, and top to bottom are: Geri Barone of Food Auditing Solutions in Illinois; WPVGA Director of Promotions Dana Rady; Chase Kincaid of Dean Kincaid Inc. in Palmyra; a group from RPE, Inc. in Bancroft, namely April Spaulding, Ben Ristow, Craig Fisher, Juan Uribe, Lance Sanchez, Levi Fennell, Lucas Wysocki, Nicky Dernbach and Ted Melby; Jorge Delgado and Cassie Krebs of Gumz Farms in Endeavor; Andy Diercks of Coloma Farms in Coloma; Tamra Bula-Garz of Gary Bula Farms in Grand Marsh; representatives from Nuto Farms in Rice Lake, namely Allen Amborn, Deb Cunningham, Mark Lieberherr and Taylor West; Nancy Mendoza (brother Javier shown setting up computer) of Okray Family Farms in Plover; Sam Vitrano of Robert Heath Farms in Coloma; Dave Zuehlke and Frank Albright (names only shown) of Coloma Farms in Coloma; and Clay Bobek (name only shown) of Trembling Prairie Farms of Markesan.
Badger Common’Tater and Tater Talk for information on when and how this class will be offered through WPVGA. Updates to the Primus GFS audit scheme, however, are not set to be released until later this year. Tentative plans are to hold the class in November or possibly in early 2022. If you have questions about any upcoming food safety classes or suggestions for the program going forward, please contact drady@wisconsinpotatoes.com. BC�T May 57
