One of the best ways to develop healthy eating habits that will last for a lifetime is to expose children to fresh fruits and vegetables at an early age. Early Childcare programs across the country have introduced farm and garden activities into their schools. Activities include field trips to local farms, incorporating local produce into menus, planting vegetable gardens, and including fresh produce in lesson plans. However, as with all food products, food safety is an important concern. Young children are at greater risk for foodborne illness so it is essential to minimize this risk.
Food Safety from Farm and Garden to Preschool is an online training program that can be used by educators, foodservice staff, parents and school volunteers. Each Unit includes videos, interactive activities such as sharing boards and the creation of best practices planning tools. The program is designed to:
- Improve the understanding of food safety risks relating to fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Reduce the risks associated with foodborne illness in young children.
The program is divided into five units:
- Farm to Preschool Benefits
- Fresh Produce and Foodborne Illness Risks
- Food Safety Basics for the Classroom and the Kitchen
- Food Safety and Gardening Activities
- Food Safety on Field Trips to Farms and Farmers’ Markets
The first three units are considered the core units and need to be completed before receiving a certificate of completion. The program will direct you through these units sequentially. Units 4 and 5 are optional and will be available once you finish Units 1 – 3.
To GET STARTED, click LOG IN on the Home Page to register. If you have additional questions about the program click on the FAQ link for commonly asked questions. If you can’t find the information you need, contact the principal investigators listed below.
Nancy Cohen, PhD, RD, LDN
Professor and Department Head
University of Massachusetts,
Department of Nutrition
100 Holdsworth Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9282
413.545.1079
cohen@nutrition.umass.edu
Catherine Violette, PhD, RD, LDN
Extension Professor and Nutrition Specialist
University of New Hampshire,
Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences
219 Kendall Hall
UNH, Durham, NH 03824-3590
603.862.2496
catherine.violette@unh.edu
Acknowledgements
Principal Investigators
Nancy Cohen, PhD, RD, LDN
Professor and Department Head
University of Massachusetts
Department of Nutrition
Catherine Violette, PhD, RD, LD
Extension Professor and Nutrition Specialist
University of New Hampshire
Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Advisory Committee
Jessica Collins, Deputy Director
Partners for a Healthier Community, Inc., Springfield, MA
Kim Concra, Nutrition and Food Safety Specialist
Community Nutrition & Food Safety, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, Barnstable, MA
Erin Murphy Craft, Regional Director, Springfield
Department of Early Education and Care, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Springfield, MA
Philip Korman, Executive Director
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), South Deerfield, MA
Brian LeTendre, Licensing Supervisor
Department of Early Education and Care - Western Office, Springfield, MA
Kathleen Millett, Executive Director
Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Programs
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,
Nutrition, Health & Safety Programs, Malden, MA
Rita Brennan Olson
Partnership for Food Safety Education
Massachusetts Extension Nutrition Education Program
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Sara Teece, Food Service Director
Square One, Springfield, MA
Staff
Lynne Thompson
NEP Marketing and Design Director, UMass Extension
Nutrition Education Programs, Amherst, MA
Cathy Wickham
Research Assistant
Nutrition Department
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Schools
Pelham Elementary School, Amherst, MA
The Rocking Unicorn Nursery School, West Chatham, MA
Square One Springfield & Holyoke, Holyoke, MA
Stepping Stones Too, Cotuit, MA
Farms
Coonamessett Farm, East Falmouth, MA
Piccadilly Farm, Winchester, NH
Farmers' Markets
Holyoke Farmers’ Market, Holyoke, MA
Hamilton Orchards
McKinstry Market Garden
New Lands Farm
Nuestra Raices
Pioneer Valley/New England Growers Co-op
Special Acknowledgements
Center for Educational Software, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Philip Bascom, Alex Karpinski, Amanda Mattingly, Matthew Mattingly, Gail Parsloe, Lily Zhu
Rikk Desgres, Pinehurst Pictures & Sound
Cindy Rice, Eastern Food Safety
Acknowledgement for Resources
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Choosemyplate.gov
Clemson University, Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packing Science
Colorado State University Extension Safe Food Rapid Response Network
Foodsafety.gov
Glo Germ
HomeFoodSafety.org
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Knox County Health Department
Letsmove.gov
Life Lab Science Program
Massachusetts Department of Early Education
Massachusetts Farm to School Project
Massachusetts Partnership for Food Safety Education
Minnesota Department of Health
Network for a Healthy California, California Department of Public Health
New Hampshire Farm to School Program
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina State University, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
NYS Department of Health
Partnership for Food Safety Education
Ohio State University Extension, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
The Center for Ecoliteracy
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
USDA Healthy Meal Resource System, TEAM Nutrition
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
USDA and the Partnership for Food Safety Education
University of California Cooperative Extension
University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension, Center for Agriculture
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi, National Food Service Management Institute
University of Missouri, Extension
University of New Hampshire, College of Health and Human Services
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College