Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course December 18 in Yates County

Cost to Attend

• Early bird registration (before November 26): $20
• Regular registration: $35
• All materials, lunch, snacks and a certificate of completion will be provided to those who attend for the full day.

Registration is required: Please call (315)536-5123 to register

Who Should Attend

• Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety
• Growers who are covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule or who anticipate being covered in the future

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 or responsible party for your farm 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 Training Course

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering:

• 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.

Benefits of Attending the Course

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/PSA Certificate of Completion, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

Trainers: Robert Hadad (Cornell Vegetable Program), Craig Kahlke (Lake Ontario Fruit Program), Judy Wright (CCE Seneca) and Caroline Boutard-Hunt (CCE Yates)                Funding provided by the North East Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS)

Additional Information

For more information about scheduled PSA Grower Training Courses, please visit the PSA website at producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.

For more information on the course or to register, please contact CCE Yates at (315) 536-5123