NIH Farmer s Market Reference Guide

Transcription

1 NIH Farmer s Market Reference Guide INTRODUCTION: The Farmers Market Reference Guide was created t emphasize the specific rules and requirements fr the NIH farmers market. The guide was written fr bth market rganizers and market vendrs and t help bth understand the fd safety regulatins and permit requirements at NIH. Guide Cntents: Terminlgy Permitting Prcess Farmer Market Vendrs Rules and Requirements Farmer Market Crdinatrs Rules and Requirements Sampling Requirements Farmers Market Quick Prduct Reference Cntact and Resurce Infrmatin Frequently Asked Questins Applicatins TERMINOLOGY: (The fllwing are a few f the terms cmmnly assciated with farmers markets) a) Apprved means acceptable t the regulatry authrity based n a determinatin f cnfrmity with principles, practices, and generally recgnized standards that prtect public health. b) Farmers Market means a cmmn facility where tw r mre vendrs gather t sell a variety f fruits, vegetables, baked prducts, raw prduct, and related farm r fd prducts sld t the cnsumers. c) Cnsumer means a persn wh is a member f the public, takes pssessin f fd, is nt functining in the capacity f an peratr f a fd establishment r fd prcessing plant, and des nt ffer the fd fr resale. d) Cttage Fd Operatin means a licensed business which peple make lw-risk fd prducts in their wn hme kitchen and sell directly t cnsumers. e) Farmers Market Crdinatr means an individual r grup f individuals that are respnsible fr crdinating and rganizing the farmers market. f) Farmers Market Vendr means an peratr prviding an apprved prduct at the farmers market. g) Fd means a raw, cked, r prcessed edible substance, ice, beverage, r ingredient used r intended fr use r fr sale in whle r in part fr human cnsumptin, r chewing gum. h) Ptentially Hazardus Fd (PHF) means a fd that requires time/temperature cntrl fr safety t limit pathgenic micrrganism grwth r txin frmatin. i) Ready-t-Eat means fd(s) that are in a readily edible frm withut additinal r further preparatin t achieve fd safety.

2 APPROVAL PROCESS: Depending n the types prduct(s) ffered fr sale t the cnsumer, a farmers market vendr may require prir apprval frm the NIH Divisin f Occupatinal Health Services (DOHS). Refer t the attached quick prduct reference list f varius fd(s) item examples that require a permit r are exempt frm a permit t perate at a farmers market. The fllwing steps are utlined t prvide a radmap t better assist ptential crdinatrs and/r vendrs wh require a farmers market permit: 1. Obtain a cpy f the Farmers Market Reference Guide and all applicable applicatins. Read it. 2. Farmers market vendr infrmatin and applicatin is reviewed by DOHS. 3. Once a vendr applicatin is accepted, the vendr is issued a written cnditinal apprval and is allwed t set up at the farmers market as described and illustrated n the vendr applicatin with the fd prduct(s) apprved fr cnsumer sale. 4. The health authrity shall arrive during the vendr s pening day at the farmers market t cnduct an inspectin and determine if cnditins are met and the vendr s bth, emplyee(s), prduct(s) and the layut meet FDA Fd Cde requirements and is cngruent with the Farmers Market Reference Guide. 5. Once the apprved farmer s market crdinatr chses t shut dwn the market fr the seasn r year, all farmers market vendr s permits at the apprved lcatin will n lnger be valid and hereby clsed fr business at that specific lcatin fr that year. During the farmers market seasn, unannunced rutine inspectins may be cnducted t all permit hlders t verify if fd safety standards, guidelines and requirements are current as frmerly apprved.

3 FARMERS MARKET VENDOR REQUIREMENTS: Althugh farmers market are less cmplex than the usual temprary fd events, they are expected t fllw the same requirements and d nt perate much differently. The main difference between them is farmers markets typically perate n a set frequency every week during the warmer seasns, such as ne day a week. The fllwing are a list f RULES DOHS requires participating vendrs t understand: 1. Only vendrs wh have been apprved by the farmers market crdinatr t participate may apply fr apprval frm DOHS. 2. A vendr can ONLY perate at an apprved farmers market if apprved by DOHS fr farmers markets. Other permitted fd peratrs must receive specific written permissin frm this department befre perating at a farmers market. 3. Farmers market vendr apprvals are limited t the selling f prepackaged fds. N cking, ht hlding, r fd preparatin is permissible. Only fds listed n the applicatin and apprved by DOHS may be ffered fr sale. Cking r advance fd preparatin requires a temprary fd event apprval. 4. If the farmers market vendr ffers sampled prducts, refer t the sectin fr sampling fr apprved sampling methds which shall cmply with FDA Fd Cde. 5. Farmers market vendrs are expected t prvide their business/rganizatin name where it can be viewed by custmers frm the frnt. Participating vendrs must cmply with the fllwing partia l list f fd cde requirements as directed by the health department: 1. Prepackaged fds shall be labeled. Labeling shall include the cmmn name f the prduct, an ingredients list by rder f weight, a statement f quantity (e.g. net weight, vlume r cunt) and name, address and zip cde f the prducer. Prvide sample labels with applicatin. 2. Fd surce shall be verified and apprved. Prvide cpy f whlesale license with applicatin. 3. Prvide sufficient number f ice chest(s) if cld hlding any ptentially hazardus fds, and prvide a prbe thermmeter inside the chest t mnitr and maintain 41 F r less at all times. 4. Prvide sufficient amunt f ice r cld packs. Only prvide ice frm an apprved supplier r surce. 5. Stre ALL fd prducts ff the grund minimum 6 inches and stre under a cver r canpy. 6. Except fr service animals as per law, n pets r livestck are allwed within yur space. 7. At least ne emplyee fr each vendr s bth shall pssess a valid fd handler card. 8. All prducts must be held, stred, and transprted in a clean and sanitary envirnment. 9. With exceptin t an apprved cttage fd kitchen, n hme prepared r packaged fds. 10. If selling bulk fd items, the prduct shall be prtected and the pening shall be at least 30 inches frm the grund, and under cver. The scp shall be stred utside the bulk bin in a sanitary way. 11. Prvide hand washing statin if required by DOHS, such as sampling r handling fd prducts that are ready-t-eat. Hand washing statin must cnsist f a 5-galln thermal (insulated) cntainer with a spigt that prvides a cntinuus flw f warm (100 F-120 F) running water, sap, paper twels and a 5-galln bucket t cllect dirty water. Prvide methd t heat water during the day fr hand washing and cntact the crdinatr t lcate the wastewater dispsal site.

4 FARMERS MARKET COORDINATOR REQUIREMENTS: Farmers markets are required t be perated r managed by a crdinatr. The crdinatr may be an individual r an rganized grup/cmmittee with assigned psitins. The crdinatr has cntrl ver the vendr and makes the decisin which farmers market vendr is invited t participate and the prduct(s) each vendr may ffer fr sell. If necessary, the crdinatr has the authrity, abve and beynd the health department, t remve a vendr and/r fd prduct frm sale. The fllwing are RULES DOHS requires farmers market crdinatrs t understand: 1. T qualify as a farmers market, the crdinatr shall have at least tw vendrs perating at ne time. These first tw vendrs must be permitted, wned and perated by tw separate parties. 2. The crdinatr is t maintain a current list f all participating vendrs and have available during the nrmal business hurs f the farmers market. 3. The crdinatr shall crdinate and cmply with city r cunty jurisdictins cncerning public access, parking, public utilities, and zning rdinances. 4. The crdinatr shall btain a cpy f all vendrs whlesale licenses/permits fr their file, as applicable. 5. With the exceptin t sampling prducts (refer t sampling guide attached), vendrs are nt permitted t prepare fd t serve custmers r ther vendrs. 6. The crdinatr shall keep DOHS infrmed f any changes r prblems with the lcatin. 7. The crdinatr shall prvide accmmdatins and essentials t the vendrs as listed belw. Farmers market crdinatrs must cmply with the fllwing partial list f requirements as directed by DOHS: 1. Lcate apprved pressurized water supply fr farmers market vendrs wh require it fr their setup. Prvide fd grade hse t transprt water r fd grade water cntainers when pressurized water is nt available. Prvide a backflw preventin device t prtect water supplies cnnected t the hses. A private well is nt an apprved water supply and shall nt be used as a surce unless authrized. 2. Electrical supply shall be lcated, sufficient and available t vendrs wh require it fr their setup. 3. Restrm facilities shall be within 200 feet t the farmers market lcatin withut crssing any majr streets. Restrms shall be prvided with ht water, sap, and dispsable twels, and kept available fr all farmers market vendrs. Prtable tilets are allwed with cnditins n a perfrmance basis. 4. Wastewater generated by vendrs shall be prperly dispsed f in a sanitary sewer system, such as inside nearby buildings. If sanitary sewer is nt readily available, then apprved ttes designed fr hauling and transprting wastewater shall be prvided t prevent cntaminatin. Streets, gutters, grund (including grass), and strm sewers are nt apprved fr wastewater dispsal. 5. Garbage r rubbish cntainers shall be prvided by the crdinatr t cllect slid waste generated by the vendrs at the farmers market. Prvide cntainers with liners in adequate number and place strategic lcatin arund the market. Empty cntainers t prevent flies, drs, and ther nuisances. Farmers market crdinatrs shall include (with the vendr applicatins) a diagram f the entire farmers market. The diagram must identify the essentials mentined abve and the prpsed sites fr each farmers market bth.

5 SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS: Distributin f samples at farmers markets, allw custmers t sample prducts befre purchasing. Hwever, unsafe sampling methds can easily cntaminate the prduct(s) and may result in fdbrne illnesses. The FDA Fd Cde requires that basic sanitatin practices be fllwed when samples are dispensed at farmers markets. T sample, the farmers market vendr shall cmply with the fllwing sanitatin and fd safety practices: 1. Sampling f any fd prduct(s) must be apprved by DOHS; and the prper apprval must be btained after prviding a written prcedure describing the fd flw prcess. 2. A hand wash statin is a MUST; and set up in clse prximity t the vendr s bth. Refer t vendr requirements fr a prper hand washing statin. 3. Directly tuching f the samples is nt allwed. Use dispsable glves r tngs. Glves are t be used n bth hands. Wash hands first befre dnning glves. If handling mney and using glves, yu must always wash hands after handling mney. 4. Prduce intended fr sampling must be pre-washed at an apprved cmmissary. 5. Prducts intended fr sampling shall be pre-prtined r prepared fr sampling in advance at an apprved cmmissary. 6. Samples may be served in a variety f fashins, including but nt limited t the fllwing: a) Shaker cntainers with sput and lid (e.g. nuts, ppcrn, seasning, jerky, etc.) b) Dispsable single use utensils, such as tthpicks (e.g. smked salmn, cheese, etc.) c) Dispsable single use miniature paper cups. (e.g. trail mix, jerky, fudge, crackers, etc.) d) Tngs t retrieve prduct(s) frm a fd grade cntainers. (e.g. sauerkraut pickles, etc.) e) Individually wrapped r sealed samples prepared in advance at the cmmissary. 7. All cntainers used t stre r serve samples shall have a lid with a hinge, cver r dme t prtect frm cntaminatin. 8. Cutting surface shall be smth, nn-absrbent and easily cleanable. 9. Prvide extra backup utensils (e.g. tngs, frks, knives) and prvide cntainers labeled clean and dirty fr the utensils. Keep the clean utensil cntainer lid clsed. 10. Prducts intended fr sampling that require refrigeratin must maintain minimum cld hlding temperature 41 F. 11. All prduce breached, cut, r sliced shall maintain cld hlding temperature f 41 F. 12. If washing utensils n site, must set up a washing statin cnsisting f 3 bins; ne with sapy warm water fr washing; ne with clean water fr rinsing; and ne with bleach in water fr sanitizing (use ne tablespn bleach per galln f water t prvide the crrect dilutin). 13. Prvide wn garbage can with lined dispsable bags t keep sample preparatin area clean; discard dispsable single use items; and prvide a lid t reduce insects frm assembling ver can. 14. Discard any fd r prduct samples requiring cld hlding after 4 hurs. Recrd r mark the time the samples left cld hlding.

6 FARMERS MARKET PRODUCT QUICK REFERENCE APPROVAL CRITERIA: S what fd prducts can be sld at Farmers Markets at the NIH? Whether a farmers market vendr requires apprval r nt is determined by the type f fd r prduct(s) ffered fr sale (DOHS will assist with this decisin). Regardless f the permit criteria, ALL fd prduct(s) shall be frm an apprved surce and cmply with the labeling requirements. Fr additinal clarificatin, please cntact DOHS. FARMERS MARKET- APPROVAL REQUIRED: Primarily, any cmmercially prepackaged ptentially hazardus fds (PHF) that are bttled, canned, cartned, securely bagged, securely wrapped r prtined, divided, r weighed at the fd bth. The permit is required even if the prduct(s) were prcessed and packaged at a state licensed whlesale facility r a permitted retail fd establishment. Examples f fd prducts requiring a farmers market permit include, but nt limited t the fllwing items: Anything Requiring Refrigeratin Juices and Cider Sliced r cut ptentially hazardus fd Fruit r Vegetables Garlic r Herb-In-Oil Mixtures Eggs Spruted Beans and Seeds Dairy Prducts Fresh Salsa/Dairy-Cntaining Dips Meat/Pultry/Seafd Prducts Nn-PHF fds nt listed belw FARMERS MARKET -NO APPROVAL REQUIRED: Selling whle vegetables and fruits (harvest cut OK). Selling nn-ptentially hazardus fds (des nt require refrigeratin) that were made under a permit frm the lcal health department r ther fd safety authrity, including fds like: Baked Gds Cttage Fd Licensed fd Jam/Jelly Dried herbs/spices Hney NOT ALLOWED AT FARMERS MARKET: Fds requiring cking, ht hlding, r preparatin nsite. Selling f restaurant style ready-t-eat fds.

7 CONCLUSION: Farmers markets have becme a ppular venue fr many lcal farmers and businesses t intrduce, prmte, educate, and sell their prducts t cnsumers. If a business chses t becme a fd vendr at a farmers market at the NIH, it is imprtant they understand and fllw the rules and regulatins that exist t prtect the cnsumers frm fd brne illnesses and safe guard their prduct frm cntaminatin and adulteratin. The DOHS has the respnsibility t regulate all fd establishments including thse perating at farmers market which are nt exempt frm the law. We encurage all farmers market vendrs and crdinatrs t btain a cpy f the FDA Fd Cde fr further infrmatin n fd safety and requirements. Hpefully, this guidance dcument will serve as a basis f further understanding and expectatins in hw t prperly regulate a farmers market. Fr further infrmatin, clarificatin r interpretatin f the fd cde r this guidance dcument, we ask yu cntact DOHS and smene will assist yu r answer any questins.

8 FARMERS MARKET FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. We wuld like t prepare fd at all the farmers markets at the NIH. Will the farmers market permit allw me t d this? A. N, the farmers market permit is nly issued t vendrs and limited t the selling f prepackaged fds and prduce. Cking r fd preparatin (except apprved sampling) is prhibited. Cking and/r preparing fd requires either a mbile fd unit r a temprary fd permit. Q, Can we sell nn-ptentially hazardus fds (i.e. raw prduce/vegetables, hney, etc.) at the farmers market withut a farmers market vendr permit? A. Yes, there are several fd items that are allwed t be sld at the farmers market and cnsidered exempt frm apprval frm DOHS. Please refer t the Farmers Market Reference Guide fr a list f prducts that requires a permit r nt. Q. D we need a hand washing statin at ur bth? If s, hw d we prvide ne? A. Depends n the peratin inside the bth. If there is ANY frm f fd handling, such as selling ready-t-eat prduce, prviding samples, and fd NOT prepackaged r certain bulk fd items r prtining is dne n-site, it requires a hand wash statin at the bth. Please refer t the Farmers Market Reference Guide n hw t crrectly set up a hand wash statin. Q. Hw lng is the farmers market apprval gd fr nce issued t the farmers market vendr? A. The apprval is nly valid until the farmers market crdinatr decides t clse the market fr the seasn r year. Q. We already have a farmers market apprval, but we want t ffer samples t ur custmers. What steps must we take t prvide samples? A. Prvide DOHS with written prcedures utlining the steps r fd flw t ensure the samples are prepared and dispersed safely t the custmers. Please refer t the Farmers Market Reference Guide fr apprved sampling methds and requirements. The NIH Divisin f Occupatinal Health and Safety can be reached at: