THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE SPREAD AND MITIGATE THE INFECTION OF SARS-COV-2 WITHIN SMALL-SCALE, LIMITED RESOURCE MINORITY FARMS, FOOD PROCESSING, AND FOOD SERVICE COMMUNITIES. USING THE STRONG COLLABORATION AMONG THE 1890 INSTITUTIONS, THE PLAN IS TO CREATE MEASURABLE IMPACTS AMONG TARGETED MINORITY COMMUNITIES WITHIN 90 DAYS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL IMPACT DURING ITS YEAR-LONG DURATION WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES ACROSS 18 STATES:• OBJECTIVE# 1 - TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN MULTIPLE USERS, FOCUSING ON: SMALL-SCALE, LIMITED-RESOURCE AND MINORITY PRODUCERS AND RANCHERS, SMALL-SCALE PACKINGHOUSES AND PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, CSA PROGRAMS, AND DIRECT DELIVERY ON TO CONSUMERS, SMALL RETAILERS, AND SMALL PROCESSORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD SARS-COV-2 AND MITIGATE INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF SARS-COV-2.• OBJECTIVE# 2 - CREATE AND ASSESS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SARS-COV-2 ON SMALL, LIMITED-RESOURCE, AND MINORITY FARMERS AS A BASELINE.THROUGH THE PROPOSED APPROACH, THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN 200 EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO EDUCATE AT LEAST 1,000 PRODUCERS AND 3,000 FARMWORKERS ON PPE, HYGIENE AND SARS-COV-2 SAFETY. THE NETWORK WILL ALSO REACH 500 FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD PROCESSORS AND HUBS, ETC. WITH THE SAME TRAINING. AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD WE WILL SHARE PUBLICATION OF BASELINE RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS DETAILING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SARS-COV-2. CREATING AN IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL HELP TO CONTROL THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SARCOV-2 ON THE CLIENTELE WE SERVE BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

Delaware State University, Dover DE

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