Rutgers-Newark (RU-N) seeks to purchase fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat from women-owned farms in New Jersey. Pick-up is available and all women-owned/operated farms located in NJ are eligible. The deadline is almost here! Interested farmers are asked to complete the interest form by Wednesday, February 4, 2026. [Read more…]
Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training
When: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 10:00-5:00 EST.
Where: Northeast Agricultural Expo (New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention) at Harrah’s Waterfront, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ.
To sign up: https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/fsmaac/
Online ticket Sales end on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Registration after January 13, or in-person registration at the conference, must be paid by check.
Who Should Attend
- Fruit Growers
- Vegetable Growers
- Growers who have farms that fall under the PSR
- Growers who have farms that don’t fall under the rule but will in the future
Benefits of Attending the Workshop
Individuals who participate in this course will gain a basic understanding of:
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them
- Fulfills the requirement for at least one supervisor from a farm to complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety
- Where microorganisms may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Cleaning and Sanitizing
What to Expect at the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training:
- 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
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to 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 survey to their trainer at the end of the course.
Does your farm fall under the FSMA PSR? Find out at the link below.
https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N
Two-day online Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training: December 9 and 10
The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’
You’ll need to attend both days to receive a certificate, and you must always have a camera on during the training according to the Produce Safety Alliance Online Training Policies.
For more information and to sign up go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety [onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu] Registration closes November 14th.
Not sure if your farm falls under the Produce Safety Rule: Take this survey to find out: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N [rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com]
October 30, 2025 Kate Brown
Workshops on Taxes, Estate, and Succession Planning
The NJ Department of Agriculture, State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) has two upcoming workshops on ‘Taxes, Estate, and Succession Planning’ as they relate to farmland preservation. These in-person workshops are best suited for farmers, farm owners, and their professional advisors. This is not a series – select the workshop location closest to you. [Read more…]
September 15, 2025 Kate Brown
Cover Crop Webinar Series Hosted by NECCC
The Northeast Cover Crops Council will host a fall webinar series. The webinars will take place from 12-1 pm on Wednesdays from October 1 to November 5, 2025. Click here to register for the series. [Read more…]
September 8, 2025 Kate Brown
Fall Vegetable Twilight Meeting on 9/18, Registration Closes 9/12
A fall vegetable twilight meeting will be held at Norz Hill Farm & Market, LLC., 120 S Branch Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844 (Somerset County) on Thursday, September 18. Registration is required and closes Friday, September 12. To register, complete this registration form or call the RCE Somerset County office at 908-526-6293 ext. 4.
AGENDA
4:00 pm – 4:15 pm Welcome, load wagons, wagon ride to field
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm Drone Seeding Winter Cover Crops into Pumpkin
Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent , Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County
4:45 pm – 5:15 pm Small Farm Robotic Equipment for Weed Control in Vegetable Production
Thierry Besançon, Extension Specialist – Weed Science for Specialty Crops , Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
5:15 pm – 5:45 pm Vegetable IPM Program Update
Amanda Quadrel, Sr. Program Coordinator – Vegetable IPM, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm Update On Important Diseases in Vegetable Production
Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist – Vegetable Pathology , Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
6:15 pm – 6:20 pm Wagon ride to tent
6:20 pm – 6:30 pm Meal of pizza and salad, provided by Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm Worker Protection Standard: Checklist for Compliance
Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent , Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
MEETING CO- SPONSORED BY THE VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY
Pesticide Recertification Credits approved: CORE (1), 1A (3), 10 (2), and PP2 (3)
Questions? Email Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent with RCE Somerset County, at kbrown@njaes.rutgers.edu.
