NC StateExtension is pleased to announce the availability of a new training program for workers in sweet potato packing houses regarding the Guava Root-Knot Nematode (GRKN).

The GRKN Training Program is an interactive session with a focus on creating a GRKN prevention culture in packing plants by educating workers. The training explains how to detect potential symptoms ofinfection in sweet potato and instructs workers on how to respond to symptoms ifdetected on the packing line. Thetraining program also explains the impact of GRKN on sweet potato production in North Carolina.

The training program uses high quality photographs of sweet potatoes infected with GRKN to aid workers inrecognizing and distinguishing symptoms that can potentially indicate infection by GRKN.  The training session lasts approximately 45 minutes and is designed to be delivered on-site to minimize packing house down time.

Further, instruction is offered in Spanish by educators from the Extension Farmworker Health and Safety Program to support worker comprehension. Involvement of the packing house owner, manager or senior supervisor during the training program is highly suggested, to ensure GRKN protocols specific to each packing house operation are discussed with workers.

At this time, the GRKN Training Program is offered to sweet potato packing facilities in eastern and central North Carolina. To learn more about the training program, or to schedule a session at your facility, please contact Roberto Rosales.

The GRKN training program for packing houses was created in collaboration with Cintia Aguilar, NC State Extension Latino programs manager, and Adrienne Gorny, assistant professor in the department of entomology and plant pathology at NC State University, to contribute to the North Carolina campaign to combat GRKN. It is financially supported by NC State Extension and the Extension Farmworker Health and Safety Program.

Visit the GRKN Resources page for more information and materials.