UVM Extension in partnership with the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is hosting a FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training in Middlebury on March 19, 2019. More information is available at https://www.regonline.com/producesafetyalliancemiddlebury and below.
Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course
Hosted by University of Vermont Extension & Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Date: March 19, 2019
Time: 8:00 AM–5:45 PM
Location: University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Middlebury Office 23 Pond Lane, Suite 300 Middlebury, VT 05754-1189
Registration Link: https://www.regonline.com/producesafetyalliancemiddlebury
Registration deadline: March 13, 2019. This training will be limited to 20 participants.
Who Should Attend
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.
Benefits of Attending
This training satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement for covered farms that “at least one supervisor or responsible party” completes “food safety training … recognized as adequate” by FDA (21 C.F.R. §112.22(c)).
Contact the Vermont Produce Program at the Agency of Agriculture to determine if your farm is covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. AGR.FSMA@vermont.gov or (802) 522-3132.
Growers that wish to participate in an On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) conducted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and UVM Extension should complete this training prior to scheduling an OFRR. An On-Farm Readiness Review is a voluntary, non-regulatory assessment to help farms prepare for Produce Safety Rule compliance. Learn more.
Cost to Attend
The discounted registration fee of $20 includes beverages, lunch, and snacks; PSA Grower Training Manual ($60 value); and Certificate of Course Attendance from AFDO ($35 value).
After attending the entire course, participants will receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course
The trainers will cover the content contained in these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Additional Information
For more information about scheduled PSA Grower Training Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.
To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Dana Ruppert at (802) 257-7967 ex 302 or dana.ruppert@uvm.edu by February 28, 2019 so we may assist you.
Funding for this event was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16- 137. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.