12:31 p.m., Jan. 15, 2010----Sue Snider of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will provide food safety training for potential on-farm food entrepreneurs during a two-session, eight-hour training program that will be held at the Delaware Department of Agriculture from 6-10 p.m. on Thursdays, Feb. 11 and Feb. 18.

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Participants must complete eight hours of training and pass a written test on the materials presented in order to receive a certificate.

As a result of training in food safety, participants will be able to:

--Identify potentially and nonpotentially hazardous foods;
--Appreciate foodborne pathogens and understand ways to control them;
--Apply the basic principles to reduce the risk of foodborne illness;
--Evaluate plans for controlling potential microbial problems in your operation; and
--Understand requirements of the new regulations for farm produced food items.

In January 2006, Delaware's new regulations governing on-farm home processing of nonpotentially hazardous foods were adopted. Farmers who wish to process nonpotentially hazardous foods in their on-farm home kitchens for sale to the public at farmers' markets, on-farm markets, or roadside stands must abide by these regulations.
These regulations established standards of practice for on-farm home food processing operations that safeguard public health and provide consumers with food that is safe, unadulterated, and honestly presented.
The regulations provide definitions, define operator qualifications, and establish operation food safety and physical facility requirements. The nonpotentially hazardous foods include:

--Baked breads, cakes, muffins, or cookies with a water activity of .85 or less;
--Candy (non-chocolate);
--Containerized fruit preparations consisting of jellies, jams, preserves, marmalades, and fruit butters with an equilibrated pH of 4.6 or less or a water activity of 0.85 or less;
--Fruit pies with an equilibrated pH of 4.6 or less;
--Herbs in vinegar with an equilibrated pH of 4.6 or less;
--Honey and herb mixtures;
--Dried fruit and vegetables;
--Spices or herbs
--Maple syrup and sorghum
--Snack items such as popcorn, caramel corn, and peanut brittle; and
--Roasted nuts.

Under the regulations, potential on-farm food entrepreneurs will be required to have eight hours of food safety training and have their farm kitchens inspected.

Copies of these regulations and applications are available on the Delaware Department of Agriculture Web site.

On-farm kitchens will be inspected by appointment.

For more information, to register for the training, or to receive a copy of the regulations, call or e-mail Sheree Nichols at the Delaware Department of Agriculture at (800) 282-8685 (Delaware only) or (302) 698-4521, or [sheree.nichols@state.de.us].