The Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association (SVGA) is the voice of Saskatchewan's vegetable growing industry. We're rooted in the issues affecting Saskatchewan's horticulture sector.
On Farm Food Safety
The Canadian Horticulture Council (CHC) developed the manuals and has assisted the SVGA and other grower associations across the country in accessing funding to provide these workshops free of charge to the commercial producers who qualify. To qualify producers must have a farm income of at least $2,500.
There are many good reasons to attend these workshops. Major retailers, processors and wholesalers in Canada require their suppliers to comply with the program and that these suppliers be audited through the program. Farms that do not plan to sell commercially will find these workshops interesting too. Market gardeners who attended previous workshops found the they gained a better understanding of food safety issues.
Food Safety is one of the things front and centre on the mind of consumers, and knowing and following best practices will help farmers ensure that they are delivering the safest product they can. Topics covered include: site selection, pest control, employee hygiene, water use and waste management. A crop specific manual is provided for the workshops, but the discussion amongst participants is invaluable.
If you are interested in participating please contact:
Connie Achtymichuk
Provincial Vegetable Specialist
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: (306)787-2755
connie.achtymichuk@gov.sk.ca