Understanding Perceptions of Fresh Produce Safety and Barriers to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Use Among Amish Growers in the Holmes County Settlement of Ohio

Authors

  • Jason Shaw Parker University of Vermont
  • Pamela Schlegel The Ohio State University
  • Douglas Doohan The Ohio State University
  • Jeffrey T. LeJeune The Ohio State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.063.006

Keywords:

Food Safety, Amish, Plain Communities, Fresh Produce, Small-scale Farms, Underserved Groups

Abstract

Addressing the complex problem of ensuring on-farm produce safety entails processes that allow for participation of affected groups, and integration of their knowledge and perceptions into the solutions. Such participatory processes, however, are difficult to develop among underserved groups, like the Amish communities of Ohio, where members seek deliberate separation from mainstream society and have insular social networks and limited trust in government agents. Using a mental models framework, we present research findings that will be used to help develop an outreach program to address produce safety in Amish communities in Ohio. These findings expand our understandings of Amish growers' perceptions and knowledge of on-farm produce safety practices in the following areas: the microbial risks to fresh and fresh-cut produce; practices that can prevent contamination; perceptions of the economic feasibility of adopting these practices; preparedness for a contamination event; and information needs and preferences. Information was collected to aid the development of outreach that respects the values and goals of the Amish produce growers, which is a key factor for program success, and that encourages the adoption of food safety principles in scale-appropriate ways by addressing barriers and building rapport and trust with community members. We believe that the information learned in this study is useful to a variety of people working with Plain Communities and other non-mechanized, small-scale farmers in addition to these communities.

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Author Biographies

Jason Shaw Parker, University of Vermont

Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont; 202 Jeffords Hall; Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA; +1-802-656-2824.

Pamela Schlegel, The Ohio State University

Food and Animal Health Research Project, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Douglas Doohan, The Ohio State University

Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University.

Jeffrey T. LeJeune, The Ohio State University

Food and Animal Health Research Project, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Published

2016-06-13

How to Cite

Parker, J. S., Schlegel, P., Doohan, D., & LeJeune, J. T. (2016). Understanding Perceptions of Fresh Produce Safety and Barriers to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Use Among Amish Growers in the Holmes County Settlement of Ohio. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 6(3), 37–59. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.063.006