The FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, discussed domestic and wild animals. This conference call focused on the potential impact of the rule on production practices regarding animals.

1. The phrase is used “growers will act appropriately” regarding potential contamination from animals on the farm. This phrase is very vague; will there be guidance from the FDA detailing what is “appropriate” action? [Read more…]

A webinar to help farmers selling or desiring to sell produce to wholesale markets, restaurants, schools or grocery stores requesting documented food safety programs by the farm operation. [Read more…]

The third FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, was held on Monday. This conference call focused on soil amendment use in the proposed rule. Details on soil amendments in the proposed rule can be found in Section F Biological Soil Amendments.  The FDA officially announced that it will extend the comment period by 120 days, allowing comments until September 16, 2013. Visit the FDA webiste to comment on these proposed rules.

Here are the questions from agricultural organizations and growers and answers from the FDA on Monday’s conference call:

1. If raw manure is applied to a field and then plastic is laid prior to seeding or transplanting is this a practice that is accepted to reduce the days to harvest to zero? [Read more…]

Growers who sell 100% of their product through direct market methods will likely never have to deal with a third party audit, but food safety is a critical component of producing a quality product.  Food safety should be a part of every farms risk management plan.  If you have not attended training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and do not yet have a farm food safety plan in place the process can seem overwhelming.  Look for future articles on food safety here in the PPA and information on GAPs trainings this fall.

[Read more…]

Food Safety Modernization Act – here is some information on new FDA water rules for water used for growing and packing produce and values for pathogens in water and the questions and how FDA answers them including:

• What changes are required for water
• What uses are not exempt anymore
• Which water sources have to be tested
• How often is water testing required

This is a recorded session in MP3 format produced by the Produce Alliance.

The second FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, was held yesterday.  This conference call focused on agricultural water use in the proposed rule.  To comment on these proposed rules go to Docket Folder Summary: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption. Comments are due by May 16, 2013

Here are the highlights of yesterday’s conference call: [Read more…]