BATH -The trend toward local farms selling their produce to schools in Steuben County could attract more local farmers with a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training set mid-April. "We want to know how much interest there is from farmers in supplying schools and other organizations in the area with local produce," Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Steuben County Executive Director Larkin Podsiedlik recently told the Steuben Legislature's Agriculture, Industry and Planning Committee. In order to sell produce to schools, farmers must have a farm food safety plan, such as the GAP certification. GAP certifications are voluntary audits that prove fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored safely to ensure quality food. GAP training is offered as a result of CCE Steuben’s Farm to School grant and participation in the Cornell Vegetable Program. The Cornell program will give local commercial produce farmers access to important resources, research and current information about the vegetable industry in the region and nationally, Podsiedlik said. GAP training for the Farm to School program is set for 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Apr. 11 and 12 at the Civil Defense Center in Bath. For more information, call Ainsley Robbins at (607) 664-2574.
