Farmers Market Food Safety

Presented by:

Pat Stieren, Chairman, IL Farmers Market Task Force

Executive Director, IFMA

What is the Illinois Farmers Market Task Force?

The Illinois Farmers Market Task Force, composed of 24 members, was created in 2011 by PA 97-0394 (SB 1852) and held its first meeting on June 28, 2012. Its goal is to address the regulatory framework that governs food safety at farmers markets. Inconsistent regulations that are not based on size or risk and the need for education have been cited as barriers to expanding local food production and sales in Illinois.

IL Farmers Market Task Force Goals:

To create less confusing, more uniform, streamlined, and less burdensome statewide regulations for farmers markets throughout the state without compromising public health.

Help identify educational opportunities for farmers, market managers, health officials, and the public about food and food safety, therefore creating healthier, better informed, and more prosperous communities and successful farmers markets.  

Why so much interest in Farmers Markets in IL?Farmers markets in Illinois have more than tripled from 97 in 1994 to more than 378 markets in 2014.

Farmers markets enrich people and communities by •Forming direct relationships among local farmers, artisans, businesses, and consumers •While stimulating local economies by removing middlemen •Spurring local and regional entrepreneurs•Spawning business development and •Creating jobs that cannot be outsourced.

IL Farmers Market Task Force accomplishments:

• Surveyed market managers, farmers, food vendors, local health department regulators

• Provided food safety education to task force members

• Updated Technical Information Bulletin #30

• Created Farmers Market Food Safety Brochure

• Educated by IDPH staff about current problems at farmers markets after recent site visits

What happened in 2014 with Public Act 98-0660 regarding farmers markets?

The new law, among other actions, directed the IL Farmers Market Task Force to recommend rules to the IL Dept. of Public Health to:

• establish a state-wide permitting process for food sampling at farmers markets, and

• require produce vendors at farmers markets to post signs at the point of sale with the address of the farm on which the products were grown or produced.

 

What other rule recommendations are the IL Farmers Market Task Force considering at this time?

• Vendor booths• Hand washing stations• Refrigeration• Temperature requirements • Wild mushrooms• Unpasteurized cider• Meat (wild, exotic, domestic)• Eggs• Fish• Aquaponic vegetables

 

Current definition of a Farmers’ Market most recently amended by Public Act 98-0660 in 2014: Farmers’ market means a common facility or area where the primary purpose is for farmers to gather to sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally produced farm and food products directly to consumers. (410 ILCS 625/3.3)  

What does the preliminary draft rule look like for statewide food sampling permit? Section 750.1630 - Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate for Farmer Markets A food sampling handler is any person who is engaged in the un-packaging and performance of tasks such as cutting, slicing, preparing and distributing food product samples to individuals at a farmers market. Training and Fees

Each person that engages in food product sampling is required to successfully complete an ANSI-approved or accredited food handler’s curriculum or an IDPH-approved food handler’s training course and the required IDPH approved training on specific sampling information at farmers markets or obtain an approved Local Health Department permit.

What does the preliminary draft rule look like for statewide food sampling permit? Section 750.1630 - Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate for Farmer Markets  (continued)

After proof of food handler training course and attending the specific farmer’s market sampling training, the food sampling handler will be issued a food product sampling certificate after filling out the Department application (form) and payment of fee. Food Sampling Handler Certificate fee is no more than $40.

A person with a valid Illinois FSSMC certification will have to apply for a food product sampling handler certificate on the Department application and will pay the fee for the certificate. The training requirements in this part will not apply.

What does the preliminary draft rule look like for statewide food sampling permit? Section 750.1630 - Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate for Farmer Markets  (continued) Certificate

The Department issued state-wide Food Sampling Handler Certificate will be valid for 36 months from the issue date.Any violation of the provisions to the food sampling certificate may result in a suspension of the certificate by the Local Health Department or revocation of the certificate by State Authority.

Post- CertificationVendors must have available on site the state-wide Food Product Sampling Certificate for each employee handling food product samples in their booth.

What does a draft example of the food product origin placard look like:

Deadline for IL Farmers Market Task Force to submit recommendations for administrative rules to IL Dept. of Public Health:

December 15, 2014

Resources:

The IL Farmers Market Food Safety Brochure is available at:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/fdd/ILFarmersMrktFoodSafety.pdf

A webinar hosted by IL Cooperative Extension was conducted June 17, 2013 on updated TIB #30 for market vendors and local health departments. A link is located at: http://media.itcs.illinois.edu/telenet/20130617/84230.html

Questions?

Comments/Input on Proposed Rules

Farmers Market Task Force Contacts:

Patricia Stieren, Task Force Chairpstieren31@comcast.net

Patricia Welch, IL Dept. of Public HealthPatricia.Welch@illinois.gov