Agents of the Ashe and Watauga Cooperative Extension Centers, and the NC Fresh Produce Food Safety Task Force, will conduct the Tier 1 N.C. MarketReady training workshop at the Ashe County Cooperative Extension Center. Tier 1 will address GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) that are directly related to field production and harvest. The training will include an introduction to common food-borne pathogens and diseases as well as recognizing points of potential contamination, proper use of biosolids as a nutrient source, effective hand-washing procedures, packing facility cleanliness and verifying water quality for field application and postharvest handling. The cost for the course is $10 per person, and includes a resource notebook and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required, and can be done by calling the Ashe County Cooperative Center at 336-846-5850. Anyone involved in handling fresh produce, from farmers and field hands to packing house employees and truckers will benefit from the training by learning to identify and prevent contact between sources of contamination and fresh produce.