Six training dates for the FSMA Produce Rule Grower Training Course have been set at locations throughout the state.
Training Dates and Locations
December 14 and 15 – Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Ave., Millville, NJ 08332
February 9 – New Jersey Agricultural Convention, Harrah’s Resort Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ
February 22 and 23 – Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 930 Spruce St., Trenton, NJ 08648
March 1 and 2 – Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Ave., Millville, NJ 08332
March 8 and 9 – Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research and Extension Center, 125A Lake Oswego Rd., Chatsworth, NJ 08019
March 22-23 – (Tentative) Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County, 314 State Route 12, Bldg. 2 Flemington, NJ 08822
Who Should Attend
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), co-management, and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. 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 from the farm must complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA’.
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course
The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time to cover content contained in these seven modules:
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
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Benefits of Attending the Course
The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they 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
Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
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 paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
Cost to Attend
Total costs to attend the Grower Training Course will vary depending whether it is a one or two day course. The one day session will just be the certification course. The second day will be for those who want to develop a written food safety plan. The one day course will be $50.00/person and the second day will be $25.00/person. These trainings are being partly funded through grants from The United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. NOTE: 10 people are required for each class to be held.
For more information please contact Wesley Kline wkline@njaes.rutgers.edu or Meredith Melendez Melendez@njaes.rutgers.edu
