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On-farm funding for food safety now available

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

On-farm funding for food safety now available
In late November, the Canadian
Horticultural Council (CHC) received government funding for Canadian
tree and vine fruit growers who are implementing on-farm food safety
programs.

In late November, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) received government funding for Canadian tree and vine fruit growers who are implementing on-farm food safety programs.

Funding under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)’s Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program, On-Farm Implementation (OFI) component, provides producers with a total allocation of $1,050 to support them in implementing on-farm food safety (OFFS) practices in their operations. A total of $300 is made available to attend up to three commodity-specific OFI workshops, while the remaining $750 can be used to receive technical support from an OFFS consultant or purchase specialized food safety equipment.

“This is excellent news for tree and vine fruit producers and packers,” said Anne Fowlie, CHC executive vice-president. “Canadian growers are strongly committed to keeping food safe, and implementing rigorous food safety programs on the farm is an integral part of that commitment.”

The CHC submitted the application on behalf of provincial member organizations who will serve as delivery agents of the funding. Individual producers should contact the appropriate delivery agent for details on how to access this funding (see list on CHC web site: www.hortcouncil.ca/FSOfi.htm).

In order to apply for OFI funding, national producer organizations must first successfully undergo a process of rigorous technical review in which the technical soundness of OFFS program procedures and requirements is verified by a federal-provincial-territorial government team led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).