The Rutgers fact sheet focusing on Worker Health and Hygiene is now available in multiple languages appropriate for
farm workers. These fact sheets can be used to educate farm workers on the basic principles of human health and hygiene to prevent human pathogen contamination of fresh produce. Visit the Rutgers NJAES publications webpage to access these versions.
On-Farm Food Safety Section
Keep up with the latest news on this dynamic topic that impacts growers on multiple levels. Developing a farm food safety plan is a good idea for all growers, and may be required as part of food safety audits if you sell to certain buyers.
View NJAES On-Farm Food Safety Publications
December 19, 2017 Meredith Melendez
Worker Health and Hygiene Translated into Spanish, Creole, Khmer, Chinese, Korean
November 14, 2017 Meredith Melendez
Workshops to Meet Your Food Safety Training Requirements
Do you need the FSMA Produce Safety Rule training? Third Party Audit training? Choose one or both days of our upcoming workshops. Remember, the FSMA Produce Safety Rule does not require training each year for compliance, but your third party auditor may require it! Register online at rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com or call Tammy Commander at (856) 451-2800, ext. 1 or email commander@njaes.rutgers.edu
2017/2018 Farm Food Safety Certificate Trainings
Registration required!
2017
November 29 and 30
FSMA-Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days, 9am-4pm. Lunch included.
December 13 and 14
FSMA-Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am-4pm. Lunch included.
2018
February 8th
FSMA- Produce Rule Training ,NJ Agricultural Convention & Trade Show, 777 Harrahs Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. $35.00 per person, register online or at the door. 9am-4pm. Lunch not included
February 20 and 21
FSMA- Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 930 Spruce Street, Trenton, NJ 08648. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am-4pm. Lunch included.
February 28 and March 1
FSMA- Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332 . $50.00 for 
day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am- 4pm. Lunch included.
March 14th
FSMA- Produce Rule Training for Blueberry Growers, Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research, 125a Lake Oswego, Chatsworth, NJ 08019. $50.00 per person, 9am-4pm. Lunch included.
Register online at rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com or call Tammy Commander at (856) 451-2800, ext. 1 or email commander@njaes.rutgers.edu
October 16, 2017 Meredith Melendez
2017/2018 Farm Food Safety Trainings
2017/2018 Farm Food Safety Certificate Trainings
Registration required!
2017
November 29 and 30
FSMA-Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days, 9am-4pm. Lunch included.
December 13 and 14
FSMA-Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am-4pm. Lunch included.
2018
February 8th
FSMA- Produce Rule Training ,NJ Agricultural Convention & Trade Show, 777 Harrahs Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. $35.00 per person, register online or at the door. 9am-4pm. Lunch not included
February 20 and 21
FSMA- Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 930 Spruce Street, Trenton, NJ 08648. $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am-4pm. Lunch included.
February 28 and March 1
FSMA- Produce Rule Training and Third Party Audits, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332 . $50.00 for day 1 or $75.00 for both days,9am- 4pm. Lunch included.
March 14th
FSMA- Produce Rule Training for Blueberry Growers, Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research, 125a Lake Oswego, Chatsworth, NJ 08019. $50.00 per person, 9am-4pm. Lunch included.
Register online at rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com or call Tammy Commander at (856) 451-2800, ext. 1 or email commander@njaes.rutgers.edu
September 13, 2017 Meredith Melendez
FDA FSMA Produce Safety Rule Updates
The FDA released several documents specific to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Large farming operations will still be expected to meet all produce safety requirements set by the rule for produce other than sprouts, except those related to agricultural water, by the original January 26, 2018 compliance date. However, FDA Commissioner Dr. Gottlieb announced that inspections to assess compliance with the non-water requirements of the Produce Safety Rule for produce other than sprouts will not begin until 2019.
The FDA released a proposed rule regarding the extension of compliance dates for the water portion of the Produce Safety Rule. If finalized, this rule would extend the compliance dates for the agricultural water requirements by an additional two to four years (for produce other than sprouts). The proposed extension will give the agency time to take another look at the water standards to ensure that they are feasible for farmers in all regions of the country, while protecting public health. The new agricultural water compliance date the FDA is proposing for the largest farms is January 26, 2022. Small farms and very small farms would have until January 26, 2023 and January 26, 2024, respectively. The proposed rule is open for public comment for 60 days on the FDA Public Inspection website.
Additionally the FDA has released a list of equivalent testing methods that growers may use to test their agricultural water for generic E. coli.
July 25, 2017 Wes Kline
Packinghouse Layout, Cleaning and Sanitation
Many packinghouses in New Jersey have not been updated in many years. If you haven’t, now is the time to be thinking about what changes will be needed to comply with a third-party audit or the Food Safety Modernization Act. Analyzing your packinghouse may also save money. Any time saved during packing will save money. If your produce moves quickly through the packing process it will maintain higher quality and be fresher.
Start by making a drawing of your packinghouse showing how the product comes from the field to the point it is loaded on the truck. Make sure to include how the produce is received, where the produce is dumped on the line or grading table, whether it goes through a washer, holding area after packing, the cold room, if applicable, and the [Read more…]
May 20, 2017 Wes Kline
USDA Audits and Inspections Rates to Increase
The United States Department of Agriculture just announced that anyone wanting a GAP or Harmonized Audit will see the base and hourly rate increase on October 1, 2017 from $92.00 per hour to $108.00 per hour. There also will be a base fee of $432.00 for either audit. This means if you have two or three audits a year each one will be charged $432.00 then the hourly rate will be added. Growers should try and combined as many crops as possible into one audit. Also, if a grower has been getting their audit in October or November, try to schedule them before October 1 to reduce your cost for this year.
For anyone calling for a quality or grade inspection the cost will increase to $191.00 per hour.
