Assessment of needs for produce safety educational resources for non–English-speaking growers in the Midwest

Abstract

Refugee growers possess diverse agricultural knowledge, but they often face barriers to complying with U.S. produce safety practices due to language limitations and unfamiliarity with Food Safety Modernization Act standards. This study conducted a needs assessment using focus group interviews with advisory board members (n = 6) and refugee growers (n = 10) in Iowa and Kansas to evaluate produce safety knowledge and identify educational gaps. The interviews with advisory board members aimed to identify refugee populations, crop types, and training needs. The interviews with growers’ focus groups explored knowledge gaps regarding worker health and hygiene, biological soil amendments, and agricultural water safety. The interview transcripts were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. The findings revealed that refugee growers spoke various languages, including Swahili, Kirundi, Nepali, Burmese, Chin, and French. While refugee growers possessed basic knowledge of hygiene and food safety, they lacked understanding in key areas such as sources of contamination, visitor protocols, biological soil amendments, and water testing. We found that language barriers, limited access to training, and cultural differences further hinder effective produce safety compliance. Based on these findings, developing culturally relevant and linguistically tailored educational materials such as short-format, multilingual videos, and posters that reflect growers’ traditions and experiences was recommended. Making these resources accessible via platforms like WhatsApp and YouTube can enhance produce safety practices and support compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act. This research highlights the importance of accessible training to promote produce safety, regulatory compliance, and sustainable agricultural practices among refugee growers.