PSA Grower Training
Who Should Attend
This is a one-day event that is intended for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan.
The PSA Grower Training Course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in ยง 112.22(c) that requires 'At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm that must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.'
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Course
PSA Trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content of the Produce Safety Rule 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, 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.
Participants that complete training 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, each participant must be present for the entire training course and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
This publication was made possible by Grant Number 1U18FD005920-01 from Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the FDA.
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.