Have you gone through the Produce Safety Alliance training for the Produce Safety Rule? If so, now is your chance to find out if your farm is ready for an inspection. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) and the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team are collaborating to perform assessments on any farm who has gone through the PSR training. This is free and confidential for your operation. One member from each team will walk around the farm with you and help you decide whether any changes may be required to pass an inspection. The team will leave with you a list of the top three or four items considered most important. All notes taken during the visit will be left with you and nothing will be photographed. This is your opportunity to get a firsthand assessment about what you need to do before inspectors show up.
The best time for the team to visit is when the farm is getting close to harvest, so they can assess practices from field production through packing. The assessment will take approximately two hours depending on the size of operation.
To schedule a review contact NJDA at 856-839-3388 or email: fvinspection@ag.nj.gov
