COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to a recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fresh fruits and vegetables account for 24 percent of U.S. foodborne illness in which both the responsible food and contaminant are identified.

This is one reason why The Ohio State University’s Fruit and Vegetable Safety Program is holding a series of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training sessions for fruit and vegetable producers throughout the state. The series will be this winter and spring.

“GAP sessions are aimed to help growers understand the basic concepts of good agricultural practices and begin developing a farm food safety plan,” said Lindsey Hoover, the program’s coordinator. “Over the past two years, the team held 32 such programs with 859 participants.”

In a series of pre- and post-tests conducted in those classes, evaluations indicated 75 percent of participants showed improvement in information and knowledge gained from the training. “An additional 18 percent of test scores remained the same, and a number of those were perfect scores to begin with. They couldn’t have improved if they tried,” she said.

“This year’s program is very similar to the 2014 program with one exception. New this year is information on the Proposed Supplemental Rule in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, which is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in October. The proposal includes revisions in what will be required for water quality and testing, manure and compost application and wildlife intrusion.”

The revisions are still in the proposal stage and are subject to further change, Hoover said, but participants will learn the newest information available at the time of the classes. Classes typically run 2.5-3 hours. Participants will receive a binder with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) templates and record-keeping templates, presentation handouts and a certificate of participation.

“Pre-registration a week beforehand is required for most classes,” Hoover said. “It’s not required for those labeled as ‘no-technology’ sessions, which are designed for members of the Amish, Mennonite or Plain sect communities, but are open to all. Classes may be canceled if fewer than 10 people pre-register.”

Sessions are $20 per person, a discounted fee made possible through a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. More sessions may be scheduled, but the funding that subsidizes registration fee expires in June. To register for a class and to see an updated schedule, go to “Upcoming Events” at http://producesafety.osu.edu where registration forms can be downloaded.

“In addition,” Hoover said, “the Fruit and Vegetable Safety Program is planning free Agricultural Water Quality and Testing Workshops for fruit and vegetable growers. During those sessions, presenters will discuss the currently proposed water quality and testing standards in the FSMA’s Supplemental Rule in greater detail, the science behind water samples and how to read test results and a hands-on demonstration focused on proper water sample collection performed by a local laboratory representative.”

She added participants who attend the water workshops will receive a discount on a water test from the participating laboratory, free consultation from a local laboratory representative and take-home materials to prepare for successful water sample collection.

Participants who need a printed registration form mailed to them may contact Hoover at 330-202-3555, ext. 2918, or by fax at 330-263-3685.

Upcoming training sessions include:

•Holmes County, Feb. 24, 1-4 p.m., Mt. Hope Auction Barn, Mt. Hope

•Lucas County, Feb. 26, 1-4 p.m., Toledo Botanical Gardens Conference Center, Toledo

•Licking County, March 3, 1-4 p.m., site to be determined (TBD)

•Fairfield County, March 3, 6-9 p.m., Fairfield County extension office, Lancaster

•Delaware, Union County, March 5, 1-4 p.m., Dublin Community Rec Center, Dublin

•Knox County, March 12, 6-9p.m., site TBD

•Muskingum County, March 17, 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., Muskingum County Business Incubator, Zanesville

•Wayne County, March 30, 9 a.m.-noon, Fisher Auditorium at OARDC, Wooster

•Holmes County, April 7, 1-4 p.m., Mt. Hope Auction Barn, Mt. Hope

•Cuyahoga County, April 20, 6-9 p.m., Cuyahoga County extension office, Cleveland

•Monroe/Belmont counties, April 21, noon-3 p.m., Somerton Fire House, Barnesville

•Guernsey/Noble Counties, April 21, 6-9 p.m., Guernsey County extension office, Old Washington

•Athens County, April 23, 1-4 p.m., Athens County extension office, Athens