Produce is at the top of the list of foods associated with foodborne illness. As a result, programs to encourage fruit and vegetable farmers to adopt safe production, harvest and post-harvest practices were established. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule was implemented in 2016. This Rule requires farmers that are not exempt from the Rule to attend an approved training program. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) developed an approved course. Presently, the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training from UConn Extension is the only grower training program that meets the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. UConn Extension offers the PSA Grower Training course several times per year, during the winter off-season (both virtual and in-person options).
Farmers who may be exempt from the Produce Safety Rule because they do not sell to customers or have a required GAP audit, are still encouraged to attend a produce safety training course. Any outbreak tied to a fruit or vegetable farm in Connecticut has negative consequences for both the individual farmer and the industry as a whole.
The Produce Safety Rule states that at least one responsible person must complete training equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if the farm is a covered farm, defined as:
- A farm that sells over $500,000 (three year average) worth of fresh produce OR
- That sells more than $25,000 and up to $500,00 (three year average),if they do not meet the requirements of the Qualified Exemption
- (These dollar amounts are updated annually using the inflation calculator. Input the original year of 2011 and the original dollar amounts, such as $500,000 or $25,000 to get the current adjusted limit.)
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) developed this FDA approved curricula. Information regarding the course can be found on the Cornell Produce Safety Alliance website. The produce safety community believes that all growers should be knowledgeable of the standards that now govern the industry. We encourage all growers, regardless of compliance and exemption status, to take the course.
If you would like to be on the email list to be notified of course registration information, please email: indu.upadhyaya@uconn.edu. For information about Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), GAP audits, the Produce Safety Rule or general information about produce safety, go to Food Safety in Connecticut for Farmers and Growers.
2025 FSMA Produce Safety Rule/Alliance Training Courses
Two PSA Grower Training Courses are presently scheduled for late winter 2025. Registration is first come, first served, so please register early, no matter which course you plan to attend.
IN PERSON COURSE:March 26 and 27; March 28, Snow Date 8:30 am through 4:00 pm Middlesex County Extension Center 1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT 06438 Registration Deadline Monday, February 24 |
VIRTUAL COURSE:April 8 and 9; No Snow Date 8:30 am through 3:30 pm Registration Deadline Monday, March 10 No limit on participants |
REGISTRATION: Course fees are $50.
TO REGISTER ONLINE VISIT: https://s.uconn.edu/fsmaproducesafety
The preferred method of registration/payment is through UConn Marketplace, paying with a credit card. Please include your phone number and regularly used email address in case of emergency or cancellation. If you must register by mail, please use the form on the second page of this document. If you have any issues enrolling, please contact Tolland County Extension at 860-875-3331 or tolland@uconn.edu
Instructors:
- Indu Upadhyaya, Ph.D., Food Safety Specialist, UConn Cooperative Extension
- Diane Hirsch, MPH, Food Safety Specialist, UConn
- Jacqueline Kowalski, Urban Agriculture Specialist, UConn Cooperative Extension
Course Summary: The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course has been designed to provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices knowledge that includes emphasis on co-management of food safety and environmental management goals, while outlining the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. 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.’
To obtain a certificate that provides evidence of compliance with the training requirements of the rule, you must be present for the entire two-day course, so do not make plans for the snow date!
Optional Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit programs are non-regulatory programs that may be required by a produce buyer, including distributors, school systems, institutions, government agencies who purchase food or larger retail operations. GAP audits are conducted by USDA and by private auditing firms. Generally, the programs require farmers to attend a training program and to develop and implement a food safety plan which is used as a basis for the audit.
UConn Extension offers training programs to help farmers learn about Good Agricultural Practices and to develop and implement food safety plans.
