The UF/IFAS Extension Food Safety Team will be hosting a Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, at the Gadsden County Extension Office, located at 2140 W. Jefferson St., Quincy, FL. The training will begin at 8:00 AM Eastern and end at 5:00 PM.
UF/IFAS Photo
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Who Should Attend?
This training is for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement.
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What is the FSMA Produce Safety Rule?
The Produce Safety Rule is part of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that regulates standards for the production, harvest, and handling of fruits and vegetables, in an effort to prevent microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce. When referring to a grower, harvester or packer as “covered” under the regulation, this means that those who meet the criteria for coverage will need to comply with the farm food safety standards written in the regulation. The Produce Safety Rule requires at least one individual from a farm attend a Produce Safety Alliance Training Course.
Fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and sprouts covered under the regulation are:
- Grown on commercial farms with average annual produce sales of at least $25,000 calculated over the previous three years of production
- Likely to be eaten raw (e.g., leafy greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, and most fruits)
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What to Expect at the Training?
Trainers will provide approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:
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Introduction to Produce Safety
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Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
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Soil Amendments
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Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
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Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
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Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
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How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
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In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key 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.
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Benefits of Attending the Training
The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies completion of the training course.
Hand harvesting citrus. Photo credit: Danielle Williams
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Registration
The fee for the training is $40. Registration for the course includes the training materials, lunch, refreshments, and a certificate of course attendance issued by AFDO. Participation for the entire training is required for the certificate. Attendance will be taken before the beginning of each module to ensure attendance of each module. Registration closes 1 week prior to the training date.
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TO REGISTER: https://psa030525.eventbrite.com/
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For more information, contact Danielle Williams at the UF/IFAS Gadsden County Extension Office at 850-875-7255 – dsprague@ufl.edu or Sarah McCoy at sarahmccoy@ufl.edu.
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