The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group is conducting a survey to evaluate the priority needs of New Jersey farmers for training and resource development related to safety and health. As a New Jersey farmer, you are invited to complete this survey by Friday, May 1, 2026. Click here to access the survey and learn more. [Read more…]
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 Essentials
March 23, 2026 Claudia Gil Arroyo
Visit to Clover Valley Farm – April 11
Field trip to Clover Valley Farm
Saturday, April 11, 10am
Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6
March 10, 2026 Claudia Gil Arroyo
Networks to Reduce Risk Field Trip – April 11
Field trip to Clover Valley Farm
Saturday, April 11, 10am
Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6
Produce Safety Rule Training Part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 9:30-4:30 PM.
Where: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing, NJ 08638
Cost: $100.00 (lunch included) as part of registration process you will ask to pay by card. Online ticket Sales end on Friday, March 6, 2026. If paying after the deadline or in person payment must be by check made out to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
To sign up and information: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tP1FhE34sviJv0
Who Should Attend
- Fruit Growers
- Vegetable Growers
- Growers who have farms that fall under the Produce Safety Rule
- Growers who have farms that do not 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
Areas Covered Under 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: Pre Harvest Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
After attending the entire course and submitting the appropriate survey to their trainer at the end of the 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. This course fulfills the FSMA Produce Safety Rule training requirement for at least one supervisor per farm is trained by an FDA-recognized Produce Safety Alliance curriculum.
Does your farm fall under the FSMA PSR? Find out at the link below.
https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N
February 18, 2026 Pete Nitzsche
North Jersey Commercial Vegetable Growers Meeting Program and Registration
NORTH JERSEY COMMERCIAL
VEGETABLE GROWERS MEETING
March 11, 2026
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Harvest Hall, Alstede Farms
100 Route 24
Chester, NJ 07930
Program
Program Chair
Peter Nitzsche, Agriculture and Resource Management Agent
Cooperative Extension of Morris County
8:30 – Registration
Continental breakfast compliments of industry sponsors
9:00 – Welcome and Introductions
9:10 – Vegetable IPM Update
Amanda Quadrel, Senior Program Coordinator – Vegetable IPM, Cooperative Extension
9:40 – Developing a Targeted Worker Training Program for Produce Safety
Meredith Melendez, ANR Agent, Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
10:10 – Update on Farm Service Programs
Kristen Lake, County Executive Director, Farm Service Agency
10:20 – Jersey Fresh Marketing Update
Christine Fries, Coordinator of Agricultural Marketing, Division of Markets, NJ Dept. of Agriculture
10:30 – Strawberry Disease Management: How Environment Changes the Game
Nancy Sharma, Specialist in Fruit Pathology, Cooperative Extension
11:00 – Resistance Management and the Pesticide Label – What You Need to Know
Kate Brown, ANR Agent, Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
11:30 – What is New from Industry
11:40 – Next-Generation Weed Management Innovative Solutions for Specialty Crop Productions
Thierry Besancon is an Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops
12:10 – LUNCHEON (pre-registration required)
1:00 – Updates on Disease Control in Vegetable Crops
Andrew Wyenandt, Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Cooperative Extension
1:30 – Update on Rutgers/NJAES Agrivoltaics Crops Research
Daniel Ward, Associate Research Professor, Dept. of Plant Biology, NJAES
2:00 – New and Emerging Vegetable Pests
Patricia Prade, Extension Entomologist, Penn State Extension
2:30- Specialty Winter Squash for NJ Growers
David Hlubik, ANR Agent, Cooperative Extension of Burlington County
3:00 – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn. Attendees must be present for the entire program in order to apply for NJDEP credits
NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS ARE ANTICIPATED
North Jersey Veg Meeting Registration 2026 then fax or email to:
Fax: (908) 806-4735
E-mail: kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us
PRE-REGISTRATION BY MARCH 4, 2026 REQUIRED FOR LUNCH
Directions:
Harvest Hall, Alstede Farms 100 Route 24, Chester, NJ 07930
Look for the Harvest Hall sign at the entrance to the driveway.
The entrance to the Harvest Hall driveway is directly across the street from Chubb Park ~¼ mile east of the farmstand.
If you have any question please call Kim Crommelin: (908)-788-1338
February 13, 2026 Kate Brown
Farm Safety Needs Assessment
The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group is conducting a survey to evaluate the priority needs of New Jersey farmers for training and resource development related to safety and health. As a New Jersey farmer, you are invited to complete this survey. Click here to access the survey and learn more. [Read more…]
