February 23, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 4:30p.m.
Online
Online via ZOOM. Limited Space is available and course materials will be provided from University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/online-february-23-2022-delaware-produce-safety-alliance-psa-training-registration-221568987807
Training Requirements:
- This course requires a full day dedication.
- Online Participants MUST have access to a computer with both audio and visual capabilities.
- On February 22nd, there will be a technology test day (time TBD). Please plan on attending this technology test day. If you are unable to attend this test day, please notify us as to why you will not be able to attend.
Cost: The Delaware Department of Agriculture and the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will cover the cost of course materials.
Registration: In order to guarantee course materials will be delivered on time, all participants must be registered by 4pm on February 4, 2022. If you need to make adjustments to your registration status, please do so as soon as possible by emailing Anna Wicks at Anna.Wicks@delaware.gov.
Who Should Attend?
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) of the federal regulations which requires ‘At least one supervisor from the farm must complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA’.
At this time, every farm covered under the Produce Safety Rule, (over $25,000 in average annual produce sales) is required to be in compliance with the federal regulations. If you fall within the previously mentioned sales category and have not taken the training course, you are currently out of compliance.
If you are unsure if your facility is subject to the Produce Safety Rule*, please contact the Produce Safety Rule Team at DE.ProduceSafety@delaware.gov or 302-698-4540.
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
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.
This one day course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and information 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, how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm, and parts of a farm food safety plan and the first steps that should be taken to begin writing one. There will also be updates on produce food safety research and findings, as well as information on On-Farm Readiness Reviews and how to sign up for one.
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.
For more information please contact Anna Wicks at Anna.Wicks@delaware.gov or Gordon Johnson at gcjohn@udel.edu.
*Please note: If your farm is covered under FSMA it is required that at least one supervisor or responsible authority from the farm attend a PSA training course and receives an AFDO certificate of training. Exempt fruit and vegetable growers are still encouraged to attend. Also, the traditional University of Delaware Food Safety Training (GHP/GAP Training) is not a substitute for this course.*New State of Delaware Produce Safety regulations (Produce Safety Regulations 302 Del. Code. § 3.0) require that all farms within Delaware that grow, harvest, pack, or hold produce intended for human consumption and for sale must register with the Delaware Department of Agriculture to verify compliance with the Produce Safety Rule.
This training is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007442 totaling $350,000 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.”