Challenges and Opportunities for Small- sized Processors and Growers from Different Perspectives

From farm to fork, every player in the food supply chain bears responsibility for ensuring food safety standards are met. Food safety educators are a key component in addressing knowledge and behavior gaps amongst the different players. Conducting a needs assessment allows educators to appropriately design a food safety education program for its target population. Three case studies are presented in this thesis, each investigating the food safety perceptions and needs of different target populations through a needs assessment. Each case study had two objectives: 1) identify food safety education needs for a specific target population; and 2) provide specific food safety education recommendations to address identified needs. The overall objective of this thesis was to uncover the food safety relationships between the different players in the food supply chain. The first case study (Ch. 2) examines consumers’ preferences for food safety through a national online survey. The study conclusively demonstrates consumers’ discernible preference for produce with food safety labels, however reflecting a willingness to pay only a small premium for such products. Indicating an increased price to consumer may not be an appropriate incentive in motivating farmers to adopt food safety practices. The second case study (Ch. 3) examined military veteran farmers’ on-farm food safety perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors through a national survey and in-person interviews. Military veteran farmers are aware of the importance of food safety; however, they reported risky on-farm food safety behaviors. Furthermore, military veteran farmers' unique needs were uncovered, which could help educators tailor resources for this niche farmer group. The third case study (Ch. 4) examined small- size produce drying processors’ food safety needs from the perspective of the inspector through interviews. The study demonstrated a need for clarity on the regulations and food safety standards for the small- size produce drying process. In summary, this thesis demonstrates the need for tailored food safety education interventions to meet the specific expectations of small-size and niche players in the food supply chain. Future work is recommended to continue exploring the food safety needs of niche players in the food supply chain and providing tailored food safety programs.