The Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Grower Certification Training webinar is for fruit and vegetable growers, and other persons, interested in learning about product 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 (§112.22.c).
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.
This webinar will be held on the following dates and times:
- Wed., Jan. 27, 2021 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm ET) and Thu., Jan. 28, 2021 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm ET)
- Wed., Mar. 24, 2021 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm ET) and Thu., Mar. 25, 2021 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm ET
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.
To register, go to extension.psu.edu/fsma-grower-training-webinar or call 877-345-0691. The standard registration fee is $150 per person; a $25 discounted rate is available for Pennsylvania Grower Producers who meet grant criteria by agreeing to share their contact information with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Compliance dates for the Produce Safety Rule in the Food Safety Modernization Act are as follows:
- Very small operations ($25,000 to $250,000 annual revenue): January 2020.
- Small operations ($250,000 to $500,000 annual revenue): January 2019.
- All other operations (over $500,000 annual revenue): the compliance date was January 2018.
Produce growers who are not sure whether their farm is covered under the Food Safety Modernization Act can visit the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/fsma to learn more. For more information about the Grower Training Course, contact Jeff Stoltzfus at 717- 354-8116 or jhs3@psu.edu.
