On July 3, 2025, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service released 3 new addenda to the Harmonized and Harmonized GAP Plus+ Standards: Warehouse, Food Defense, and Integrated Pest Management. All of which will require additional records. Requirements in the existing Harmonized and Harmonized GAP Plus+ standards have not changed. These new standards, versions 3.1 and 5.1 respectively, are effective July 3, 2025. Growers do not need to have these addendums audited unless a buyer requests one or all. Go to USDA Harmonized Audits to review the additions here Harmonized GAP | Agricultural Marketing Service.
March 21, 2025 Wes Kline and Jennifer Matthews
Cleaning and Sanitizing Tools for the Production Season
Now is the time to think about where there are potential sanitation issues on your farm. At the start of the season all your bins, totes and harvesting tools that come in contact with the harvestable part of the crop should be washed and sanitized before using. First, they should be cleaned and scrubbed with a soap then rinsed off prior to sanitizing. Rinsing is important since some sanitizers will interact with the soap and that could reduce the efficacy of the sanitizer. Once they are cleaned and sanitized let them dry then place in a protected area. Train workers on how to decide whether a container should be cleaned and the process for cleaning and sanitizing.
During the season picking baskets should be checked after each use to see if cleaning and sanitizing is required. You do not need to do this every day, but when a sufficient number of containers are dirty, take the time to clean them. We cannot get rid of risks on farms completely, but this step is essential to reducing risks.
If you use a packing or wash line, it should be cleaned and sanitized at the beginning of the season and after each use. This could be done at the end of the day or just before using the next time. There are four steps to cleaning and sanitizing a piece of equipment.
- Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the surface.
- Apply an appropriate detergent and scrub the surface. There are no set recommendations as to which detergent to use. Scrubbing is important to remove dirt that sticks to the surface and any biofilms that can have formed. Biofilms are a community of microorganisms that stick together and form a protective layer around themselves.
- Rinse the surface with clean water making sure to remove all the detergent and soil. If the detergent is not removed, it may react with the sanitizer making it ineffective.
- Apply a sanitizer approved for use on a food contact surface. Make sure to read the label for the concentration and contact time. Each product may require different contact time from a few seconds to several minutes. Remember the label is the law so follow what the label requires.
There is a difference between cleaning and sanitizing. Cleaning is the physical removal of soil from the surface which includes the use of clean water and a detergent. Sanitizing is the treatment of a cleaned surface to reduce or eliminate microorganisms. Remember you cannot sanitize a dirty surface! The surface must be cleaned first!
For more information please see the links below or visit our website
onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu
Video on cleaning and sanitizing a packing line: Single Line Pass Surface Sanitation: Deep Clean
Choosing the correct sanitizers: PSA EPA-Labeled Sanitizers for Produce
Correct dosage rates for sanitizers: Sanitizer Dose Calculator
Food Safety Modernization Act Traceability Rule Delayed
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced March 20 that the Traceability Rule is being delayed for 30 months. The rule was to go into effect January 1, 2026, but now enforcement will not start for at least 2.5 years. FDA will be publishing a proposed rule at a later date. There are no indications at this time what changes they plan to make or how it will impact growers of different size operations.
LAST CHANCE FOR FSMA PRODUCE SAFETY RULE GROWER TRAINING
When: March 10, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing Township, NJ 08638
Pre-Registration Required Deadline to register online is Monday March 3
This training fulfills the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that at least one person from each farm needs to receive a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA.
Topics Include:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene & Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals & Land Use
- Agricultural Water – Production Water
- Agricultural Water – Postharvest Water
- Postharvest Handling & Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
Each attendee will receive a grower manual and be eligible for a certificate from the Association of Food & Drug Officials of the United States (AFDO). Note: Each participant must stay the entire training to be eligible for the certificate of training.
The cost is $100/per person (Lunch included)
For more information, email Jennifer at jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu
Register at: https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/
This training is partly funded through grants from the United States Food & Drug Administration.
Note: Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training is available from the USDA Farm Service Agency. This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on the farm. For more information on this program please go to: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops for Program Years 2024 and 2025
Advanced Audit Training For Growers
Monday, March 3
9am – 12pm EDT
Cost: $10.00 per person
Location: Online, Zoom
You will receive the Zoom link by email approximately 1 week before class and a reminder email the morning of class
Registration Deadline & Refunds:
Deadline to register is Friday February 28, 2025
Refunds up to 7 days before event, online service fee is nonrefundable.
This online program offers growers a deeper dive into audit standards and on farm food safety issues they face on their farms. Compliance hot topics and recurring issues will be discussed as well as a timely update on traceability. This program is for growers who have already taken the Introduction to Audits Class, either online or in person.
Topics Covered Include:
- Hot Topics in Food Safety
- Cleaning and Sanitizing
- Hazards v. Risks
Any questions email Jennifer Matthews at jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu, 609-675-4221
A minimum of 10 people required to hold the class.
Growers who complete this training will receive a certificate.
To register go to https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9KygQyXTbRlVOLk
Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training
This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on their farms.
For 2025:
- Application is due between January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026
- Eligible expenses must be between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025
Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) by working directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office for details. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.
How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works
The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in 2025. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements. FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.
Program Eligibility
Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.
To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:
- Have obtained or renewed: 2025 food safety certification issued during the calendar year.
- Be a specialty crop operation (growing fresh fruits and vegetables); and meet the definition of a small business or medium size business.
- A small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of not more than $500,000.
- A medium (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.
| Category of Eligible Expenses | Payment Amount of Eligible Costs |
| Developing a Food Safety Plan for First Time Certification | 75% (no maximum) |
| Maintaining or Updating a Food Safety Plan | 75% up to $675 |
| Food Safety Certification | 75% up to $2,000 |
| Certification Upload Fees | 75% up to $375 |
| Microbiological Testing of Produce | 75% up to 5 tests |
| Microbiological Testing of Soil Amendments | 75% up to 5 tests |
| Microbiological Testing of Water | 75% up to 5 tests |
| Training Expenses | 100% up to $500 |
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts. The FSCSC application and associated forms are available online at farmers.gov/food-safety.
You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance.
For our current trainings please go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety
