THIS INTEGRATED EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT ADDRESSES THE AERC PRIORITY AREA "SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS" (A1601) BY INVESTIGATING THE EMERGENCE OF FDA FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS AS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE EXPANSION OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS. MOST NEW ENGLAND PRODUCE FARMERS WILL LIKELY BE EXEMPTED FROM THESE REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THEIR FARMS, YET MANY FARMERS MAY CHOOSE TO REMAIN SMALL TO AVOID REGULATION, PLACING THEM AT AN ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE. THIS PROJECT WILL ENHANCE THE PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE'S (PSA) FOOD SAFETY CURRICULUM BY: IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FACTORS THAT HINDER THEIR ADOPTION AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS, AND OPTIMIZING EDUCATION DELIVERY METHODS BASED ON THEIR LEARNING AND INFORMATION NEEDS.WE WILL PARTNER WITH FARMERS USING A PARTICIPATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:1) USING A MENTAL MODELS FRAMEWORK, SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS WILL ASSESS FARMER PERCEPTIONS AND BELIEFS ABOUT PSA PRACTICES AND ADOPTION INCENTIVES, AND ESTABLISH COMPLIANCE-COSTS VERIFIED USING FARMER FOCUS GROUPS;2) USE CONSUMER SURVEY RESULTS TO MEASURE PERCEPTIONS AND WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR FOOD SAFETY ATTRIBUTES AND MODEL THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN LOCAL PRODUCE MARKETS, AND DEVELOP MARKETING MATERIALS BASED ON RESULTS;3) THIS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ADDITIONAL OUTREACH AND EXTENSION WORK IN OBJECTIVE 4.4) ADAPT THE DELIVERY OF PSA CURRICULA BY DEVELOPING AUDIENCE-APPROPRIATE FOOD SAFETY TRAINING THAT ADDRESSES FARMER LEARNING AND INFORMATION NEEDS THAT INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION COSTS (OBJECTIVE 1), AND CONSUMER DEMAND FOR FOOD SAFETY ATTRIBUTES (OBJECTIVE 2). PILOT THE REVISED DELIVERY OF PSA CURRICULA AND COLLECT FARMER FEEDBACK.