Our trainings and technical assistance are making a difference for produce safety in Iowa. Read our evaluation reports and find out more about our impacts.
Annual Reports
Each year, we put together a report of our accomplishments for our grant funders. Read what we've been working on below:
Annual Report Year 4.pdf
Annual Report Year 3.pdf
Annual Report Year 2.pdf
Annual Report Year 1.pdf
Produce Safety Alliance Knowledge Assessments
Participants in our Produce Safety Alliance trainings take a pre-test and a post-test to assess their knowledge gain. On average, Iowa growers score 4.5 (out of 25) points higher on their post-tests. Read the reports from previous years.
IA Knowledge Assessment 2021.pdf
IA Knowledge Assessment 2020.pdf
IA Knowledge Assessment 2019.pdf
IA Knowledge Assessment 2018.pdf
Produce Safety Alliance Follow-up Survey
One year after a Produce Safety Alliance course, we send out follow-up surveys. 88% of Iowa produce growers who respond to the survey report making a produce safety change. These include changes to practice, infrastructure, or equipment. Read the results of two years of the survey.
IA 12 Month Follow Up Survey 2021.pdf
IA 12 Month Follow Up Survey 2019.pdf
Success Stories
Iowa State University staff collaborate to offer training that impacts people around the world. Before March 2020, the Center for Industrial Research & Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University had recently received a federal grant and was ready to provide online training geared towards small food processors in Iowa. This was necessary for an Iowa non-profit when their food packaging model had to change because of the pandemic.
We've worked specifically with produce growers who are part of the Plain Community here in Iowa. Learn more about the impact we're having with Amish and Mennonite communities.
Through a partnership with the Food and Drug Administration, Iowa produce educators brought a national meeting to Des Moines in 2019. The meeting brought together experts on Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin. The group ended the meeting by touring the Iowa State University composting facility.
Mike Buske hosted a field day, co-sponsored by the Iowa Farmers Union and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. It was held at his father, Richard Buske’s, farm north of Fort Dodge. The field day shared information about FSMA, high tunnel production, and vegetable packing, and Charlie Puffer attended. Buske and Puffer also recently participated in the Produce Safety Alliance Grower training, offered by ISU Extension and Outreach. FSMA requires farmers to take a food safety course, and this meets the requirement. Based on what they learned, both farmers have identified changes they can quickly make on their farms to improve food safety.